Enhancing Medical Education with Technology: A Comparative Study of Virtual Reality and Traditional 3D-Printed Mannequins in Pericardiocentesis Training

Abstract Background With the evolution of medical education, innovative methods such as virtual reality (VR) and 3D-printed mannequins are being explored to enhance learning and accurately simulate high-stress, real-life medical scenarios. This study evaluated the efficacy of these simulation models in training for pericardiocentesis, focusing on their ability to replicate stress levels encountered in actual medical procedures. Methods This study involved 108 final-year medical students from the School of Medicine in Madrid who were randomized into two groups to train with both a 3D-printed mannequin and a VR model. Stress responses were assessed using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis of biosignal plux system data. A secondary analysis also explored correlations between stress responses and demographics, lifestyle, medication use, and academic perceived stress. Results The findings suggest that VR and traditional mannequin-based methods are equally effective in simulating the stress levels of real-life medical procedures. Significant interactions between stress markers and demographic factors underscore the complexity of stress responses in medical training, highlighting the need for personalized educational strategies. Conclusion This study demonstrated the effectiveness of VR as an alternative to traditional training methods for simulating both the technical and emotional demands of medical procedures such as pericardiocentesis. The integration of VR into medical education can potentially improve learning outcomes and accessibility, especially in resource-constrained settings.