Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38172742›Full record

SynthesisBMC medical education2024

Comparison of the effectiveness of virtual reality-based education and conventional teaching methods in dental education: a systematic review.

Hossain Koolivand, Mohammad Mahdi Shooreshi, Roya Safari-Faramani, Milad Borji, Meysam Siyah Mansoory, Hedaiat Moradpoor, Masoud Bahrami, Seyyed Mohsen Azizi

Abstract readComparative StudySystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC medical education, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 57 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
57citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

57 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Trial
  5. Trial
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. The Impact of Restructuring Dentistry Studies on Student Stress and Satisfaction Regarding the Curriculum and Educational Methods.European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe · 2026
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hossain KoolivandDental Students' Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Mohammad Mahdi ShooreshiDental Students' Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Roya Safari-FaramaniAssistant Professor of Epidemiology Department of Epidemiology, School of Health Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health Research Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Milad BorjiFaculty Member, Department of Nursing, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Meysam Siyah MansooryFaculty Member, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Hedaiat MoradpoorAssociate Professor in Prosthodontics, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Hedaiat.moradpoor@gmail.com.
Masoud BahramiResearch assistance, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
Seyyed Mohsen AziziMedical Education and Development Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3661-2661

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesVirtual reality dental simulators as an educational tool may create specific training conditions for dental students, allowing them to practice dental skills in a safe and controlled condition. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality-based education in dental education compared to traditional education approaches.

methodsIn this systematic review, four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct) were searched until 2023 following PRISMA guidelines. The Quality assessment and risk of bias were assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration Tool for RCTs and GRADE, respectively. Inclusion criteria were restricted to randomized or quasi-randomized trials about virtual reality efficacy in dental education. Two authors independently evaluated the data and reviewed the overall risk of bias for all selected studies. Study design, sample size, hardware, onset time of intervention, duration, and number of procedures performed were among the data extracted.

resultsFrom the 703 titles, 48 full texts were chosen for review, yielding 14 articles for final inclusion. The review of these articles indicated the effective role of virtual reality dental simulators in improving students' knowledge and practical skills.

conclusionsBased on our findings, adding haptic technology to virtual reality can improve students' practical skills, hand skills, theoretical knowledge, self-confidence, and learning environment. Although a fair amount of research needs to be done, notably on cost-effectiveness, student satisfaction, and other potentially adverse effects, virtual reality is a growing phenomenon with immense potential.

Indexed as

Virtual RealityEducation, DentalHumansLearningStudentsConventional teaching methodsDental educationSystematic reviewVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID38172742
PMCPMC10765860

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.