Content area

Abstract

Aim

This review determined the effectiveness of education based on extended reality (XR) for nursing and midwifery students’ anatomy, physiology and pathology education.

Background

Understanding anatomy, physiology and pathology is essential for nursing and midwifery students. XR improves health science students’ anatomical knowledge more than traditional education; however, consistent findings regarding nursing and midwifery students remain lacking.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, ERIC, CENTRAL and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on XR’s effectiveness for nursing and midwifery students’ anatomy, physiology and pathology education were identified. Pooled effect estimates related to knowledge and learning load were calculated. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Results

We searched 619 references and identified 6 RCTs. Compared with traditional education, XR moderately positively affected post-education knowledge, but there was no significant difference (five trials; SMD = 1.04 [95 % CI: −0.25–2.33]). Regarding differences in knowledge pre- and post-education, XR showed a large positive effect (four trials; SMD = 5.86 [95 % CI: 2.48–9.25]) and exhibited a moderately significant negative effect on learning load (three trials; SMD = −0.45 [95 % CI: −0.75 to −0.14]). The certainty of evidence was “very low” and “low” for knowledge and learning load, respectively.

Conclusion

XR use in nursing and midwifery students’ anatomy, physiology and pathology education yielded a low learning load and effectively improved knowledge. Nevertheless, few studies were included in the meta-analysis, necessitating large RCTs

Details

Title
Effectiveness of extended reality-based education on nursing and midwifery students’ knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Author
Aikawa, Gen 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Kawashima, Tetsuharu 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ota, Yuma 2 ; Watanabe, Mayumi 1 ; Nishimura, Ayako 2 ; Sakuramoto, Hideaki 3 

 College of Nursing, Kanto Gakuin University, Yokohama, Japan 
 Faculty of Healthcare, Division of Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University, Shinagawa, Japan 
 Department of Critical Care and Disaster Nursing, Japanese Red Cross Kyushu International College of Nursing, Munakata, Japan 
Publication title
Volume
84
Pages
104343
Publication year
2025
Publication date
Mar 2025
Publisher
Elsevier Limited
Place of publication
Kidlington
Country of publication
United Kingdom
ISSN
14715953
e-ISSN
18735223
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
Document type
Evidence Based Healthcare, Journal Article
ProQuest document ID
3187160058
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/effectiveness-extended-reality-based-education-on/docview/3187160058/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
©2025. Elsevier Ltd
Last updated
2025-11-07
Database
ProQuest One Academic