Psychological Issues in the Development and Implementation of VR Technologies in the System of Medical Education

Abstract

Background. In connection with the pronounced trend to constant intensification of the global information space, the inclusion of immersive technologies in the educational process and training of healthcare professionals has significantly intensified in recent years. They are distinguished from traditional educational technologies by immersion, presence and interactivity that provide a developing effect (Tishkov D.S., 2020). However, the active implementation of such programmes requires an understanding of their place in the education system and the possible risks of application, not only from the point of view of the effectiveness of mastering the necessary professional competencies, but also from the subjective experiences of participants in the educational process and their psychological well-being. Objectives. The aim is to analyse psychological aspects of the use of VR technologies in the medical education system and the problem of developing a comprehensive system for assessing the safety and effectiveness of educational VR programmes. Methods. The systematic review and theoretical analysis of the problem of using VR technologies in the medical education system. Results. The introduction of educational VR programmes and the use of virtual reality tools did not receive methodological justification. Despite the prevalence and speculative effectiveness of VR technologies, there is still no reliable data on their teaching potential in the educational process. The use of virtual reality in the medical education system requires a systematic interdisciplinary analysis and discussion by a community of specialists. Conclusion. The introduction of VR technologies into the educational system requires a comprehensive psychological, pedagogical, and medical analysis. The discussion of new technologies and means of the educational process should affect a number of psychological aspects, such as: determining the zone and focus of the use of virtual reality in medical education; analyzing social components of educational activities; forming an expert community for the development, control of implementation, evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of educational VR programmes; developing methodological, didactic and methodological principles for educational programmes using VR technologies.

Keywords

• educational vr programmes
• virtual reality tools
• technology of the educational process
• effectiveness and safety of educational programmes