Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41937286›Full record

ArticleJournal of educational evaluation for health professions2026

Implementing low-cost 3D-printed brain coloring activities in neuroanatomy teaching for medical students in Singapore: a cross-sectional study.

Jason Wen Yau Lee, Fernando Bello, Jai Prashanth Rao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of educational evaluation for health professions, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

3 authors.

Jason Wen Yau LeeTechnology Enhanced Learning and Innovation Department, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Fernando BelloTechnology Enhanced Learning and Innovation Department, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Jai Prashanth RaoTechnology Enhanced Learning and Innovation Department, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThree-dimensional (3D)-printed models have been increasingly used in medical education, but most studies have focused on satisfaction or outcomes following isolated learning activities. This study aimed to explore students' perceptions of learning, engagement, usability, and learning strategies after completing a series of neuroanatomy-related coloring activities using a low-cost 3D-printed model.

methodsThis cross-sectional study involved Year 1 medical students at Duke-NUS Medical School. Students participated in 3 structured coloring activities using a modular 3D-printed brain model during a neuroanatomy session. An anonymous survey was administered 1 week after the third activity to assess students' perceived learning value, engagement (behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and agentic), usability, and learning strategies using Likert-scale items and open-ended questions.

resultsA total of 48 students completed the survey, and the instrument showed acceptable to high internal consistency. Students reported high perceived learning value, positive engagement across multiple domains during the coloring activity, and high usability of the model. Participation in the learning activities was associated with significantly higher behavioral and agentic engagement, perceived learning value, and greater use of learning strategies than non-participation. Overall, active manipulation and hands-on exploration were perceived as beneficial for learning.

conclusionLow-cost 3D-printed brain models may serve as valuable learning tools to complement existing anatomy teaching approaches when paired with well-designed learning activities. Students reported positive learning experiences and high engagement during the activities. These findings highlight the importance of sound pedagogical design and curriculum integration to maximize learning.

Indexed as

BrainEducation, Medical, UndergraduateNeuroanatomyPrinting, Three-DimensionalStudents, MedicalCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLearningMaleModels, AnatomicSingaporeSurveys and QuestionnairesEducational technologyMedical educationNeuroanatomySingaporeThree-dimensional printing

Identifiers

PMID41937286
PMCPMC13054190

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.