SynthesisScientific reports2021
The effectiveness of the use of augmented reality in anatomy education: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 28 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effectiveness of Augmented Reality in Anatomy Education: The TEACHANATOMY Randomized Clinical Trial
Hologram-Based Augmented Reality in Learning Anatomy: The TEACHANATOMY Randomized Cross-over Trial
Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Augmented Reality Integration in Skull Base Neurosurgery: A Systematic Review.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Pooled it
- Augmented reality in interventional radiology education: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicinaPooled it
- Using Hologram-Based Augmented Reality in Anatomy Learning: The TEACHANATOMY Randomized Trial.Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges · 2025Trial
- Augmented reality visualization for ultrasound-guided interventions: a pilot randomized crossover trial to assess trainee performance and cognitive load.BMC medical education · 2024Trial
- Medical students' experiences of mixed-reality-based anatomy instruction in a non-cadaveric curriculum: a qualitative case study.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Faculty Perspectives on AI Integration in Anatomy Education in the United Arab Emirates: Cross-Sectional Survey.JMIR medical education · 2026Article
- Retention of basic sciences knowledge at clinical years: a single institute study from Sudan.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- An Alternative Approach in Anatomy Education: Design of a Learning Environment Based on Artificial Intelligence-Supported Virtual Manipulatives and Investigation of Its Effectiveness.Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.) · 2026Article
- Predictive Factors of Augmented Reality-Based Clinical Task Performance Among Novice Users: Cross-Sectional Quantitative Study.JMIR XR and spatial computing · 2026Article
- [Next generation-Education and training in rhythmology : Perspectives from Heidelberg].Herzschrittmachertherapie & Elektrophysiologie · 2025Review
- Engagement and cognitive load of upper-year medical trainees during mixed reality-enhanced dissection.Anatomical sciences education · 2025Article
- Examining the impact of augmented reality on students' learning outcomes.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Application of head-mounted display-based augmented and mixed reality in nursing education: a scoping review.BMC nursing · 2025Article
- A structured evaluation of LLM-generated step-by-step instructions in cadaveric brachial plexus dissection.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- The synergy of embodied cognition and cognitive load theory for optimized learning.Nature human behaviour · 2025Review
- Article
- [Digitally based clinically oriented anatomy: the future of teaching].Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025Article
- Metaverse-based simulation: a scoping review of charting medical education over the last two decades in the lens of the 'marvelous medical education machine'.Annals of medicine · 2024Article
- Comparing the effectiveness of augmented reality and anatomical atlases in student preparation for neuroanatomy dissection.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Mixed Reality as a Teaching Tool for Medical Students in Neurosurgery.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The use of Augmented Reality (AR) in anatomical education has been promoted by numerous authors. Next to financial and ethical advantages, AR has been described to decrease cognitive load while increasing student motivation and engagement. Despite these advantages, the effects of AR on learning outcome varies in different studies and an overview and aggregated outcome on learning anatomy is lacking. Therefore, a meta-analysis on the effect of AR vs. traditional anatomical teaching methods on learning outcome was performed. Systematic database searches were conducted by two independent investigators using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This yielded five papers for meta-analysis totaling 508 participants; 240 participants in the AR-groups and 268 participants in the control groups. (306 females/202 males). Meta-analysis showed no significant difference in anatomic test scores between the AR group and the control group (- 0.765 percentage-points (%-points); P = 0.732). Sub analysis on the use of AR vs. the use of traditional 2D teaching methods showed a significant disadvantage when using AR (- 5.685%-points; P = 0.024). Meta-regression analysis showed no significant co-relation between mean difference in test results and spatial abilities (as assessed by the mental rotations test scores). Student motivation and/or engagement could not be included since studies used different assessment tools. This meta-analysis showed that insufficient evidence is present to conclude AR significantly impacts learning outcome and that outcomes are significantly impacted by students' spatial abilities. However, only few papers were suitable for meta-analysis, indicating that there is a need for more well-designed, randomized-controlled trials on AR in anatomy education research.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.