Immersive Technologies in Health Education: Combining Virtual Anatomy and Clinical Simulation

Abstract

The advancement of digital technologies has driven the adoption of innovative approaches in health education, particularly those focused on experiential learning. In this context, immersive technologies and clinical simulation have emerged as promising resources to support the training of healthcare professionals. This paper discusses the integration of virtual simulators and physical simulators in health education, based on a narrative literature review and the description of a practical educational experience. The experience consisted of conducting a training workshop held in the context of an academic event CELAMED Vassouras, RJ - Brazil, which integrated the use of virtual reality applied to anatomical education and the clinical simulation of vaginal childbirth using a physical simulator. At the end of the activity, a survey was conducted with the participants to analyze their perceptions of the experience. The results indicate that the articulation between 3D anatomical visualization and simulated practice contributed to the spatial understanding of complex structures, supported the development of clinical reasoning, and was positively perceived by the participants. It is concluded that the integration of immersive technologies and clinical simulation represents a relevant pedagogical resource for innovation in health education, highlighting the importance of future investigations with larger samples and complementary assessment instruments.