Evaluation of the effectiveness of a mixed reality platform for teaching nervous system structures, functions, and diseases to basic medical science students: A randomized clinical trial
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a mixed reality platform in teaching nervous system structures, functions, and diseases to medical students compared to traditional methods
Design
A randomized, parallel group, non-blinded clinical trial with control group on 26 students. The rand function of Excel software is used for randomization.
Settings and conduct
10 sessions of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology education at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences using mixed reality headset and software (intervention group) and traditional teaching methods (control group).
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Major inclusion criteria before randomization are third-semester medical students taking neuroanatomy and neurophysiology courses for the first time, having the ability to use digital tools and mixed reality headset, and being willing to participate in all intervention sessions with written informed consent.
Major exclusion criteria before randomization are prior experience with similar virtual or mixed reality courses and history of neurological diseases such as epilepsy, recurrent vertigo, or balance disorders.
Intervention groups
Intervention group: Teaching of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology courses using traditional methods along with the mixed reality platform. Control group: Teaching of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology courses using traditional methods only.
Main outcome variables
Knowledge Gain Score Difference in test scores between pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments on neuroanatomy and neurophysiology using a multiple-choice questionnaire
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20251023067734N1
Registration date:2025-12-29, 1404/10/08
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2025-12-29, 1404/10/08
Update count:0
Registration date
2025-12-29, 1404/10/08
Registrant information
Name
Sepideh Rashidianfar
Name of organization / entity
Isfahan University
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 31 3228 4933
Email address
spd.rashidianfar@eng.ui.ac.ir
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-10-24, 1405/08/02
Expected recruitment end date
2027-01-23, 1405/11/03
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a mixed reality platform for teaching nervous system structures, functions, and diseases to basic medical science students: A randomized clinical trial
Public title
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a mixed reality platform versus conventional methods in teaching nervous system anatomy and physiology to medical students
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Third-semester medical students taking neuroanatomy and neurophysiology courses for the first time
Ability to use digital tools and headset
Willingness to participate in all intervention sessions (providing written informed consent)
Exclusion criteria:
Prior experience with similar VR/MR courses
History of neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy, recurrent vertigo, balance disorders)
Age
No age limit
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
26
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Simple randomization using manual lottery will be employed. On 26 slips of paper, the group assignment will be written: "Mixed Reality group" (13 slips) and "Control group" (13 slips). The slips will be folded and placed in a single container. After thorough mixing, each participant, upon entering the study, will randomly draw one slip to determine their group assignment.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics committee of University of Isfahan
Street address
Research Misconduct Review Committee, Office of the Vice Presidency for Research and Technology, Vice Presidency for Research and Technology, University of Isfahan, Azadi Square
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73441
Approval date
2025-10-11, 1404/07/19
Ethics committee reference number
IR.UI.REC.1404.167
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Medical Education, Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology Education
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Knowledge Improvement: The difference between the pre-test and post-test scores on students' knowledge of the structures, functions, and diseases of the nervous system.
Timepoint
Baseline (pre-intervention), After intervention
Method of measurement
20-point Multiple-choice questionnaire. Pre-test and post-test questions are randomly selected from the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences professors' question bank.
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
Student satisfaction score: Students report their level of satisfaction with the teaching method.
Intervention group: Traditional education plus mixed reality platform: interactive 3D exploration of nervous system structures (brain regions, spinal cord, neural pathways), functions, and diseases (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's) in an immersive environment.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: Traditional teaching only, including conventional methods such as textbooks, two-dimensional atlases, educational slides, physical plastic models, and plastinated specimens (if available).
Category
Behavior
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehrnoush Malekzadeh
Street address
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jerib Street
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 9156
Email
mehrnoush.malekzadeh@med.mui.ac.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
University of Isfahan
Full name of responsible person
Babak Saffari
Street address
Vice Presidency for Research and Technology, Third Floor, Central Building, University of Isfahan, Azadi Square
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73441
Phone
+98 31 3793 2171
Email
b_saffari@ase.ui.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
No
Title of funding source
University of Isfahan
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehrnoush Malekzadeh
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Anatomy
Street address
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jerib Street
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 9156
Email
mehrnoush.malekzadeh@med.ui.ac.ir
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehrnoush Malekzadeh
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Anatomy
Street address
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jerib Street
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 9156
Email
mehrnoush.malekzadeh@med.ui.ac.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehrnoush Malekzadeh
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Anatomy
Street address
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jerib Street
City
Isfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 9156
Email
mehrnoush.malekzadeh@med.ui.ac.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD