Virtual reality simulator in pharmaceutical education
- Authors: Kurkin D.V.1, Kolosov Y.A.1, Marincheva O.V.1, Gorbunova Y.V.1, Krysanov I.S.1, Zvereva V.I.1, Bakulin D.A.1, Pavlova E.V.1, Morkovin E.I.2, Mursalov I.D.1, Naryshkin I.M.1
-
Affiliations:
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Volgograd State Medical University” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
- Issue: Vol 74, No 2 (2025)
- Pages: 46-55
- Section: Organization and economy
- URL: https://journals.eco-vector.com/0367-3014/article/view/677997
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.29296/25419218-2025-02-06
- ID: 677997
Cite item
Open Access
Access granted
Abstract
Introduction. In the system of higher medical and pharmaceutical education, there is a growing need to implement new educational technologies. For educational institutions, virtual reality (VR) represents a promising educational technology to enhance student engagement and adapt them to practical conditions.
Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of using VR technologies in the educational process of students studying pharmacy.
Material and methods. The study was conducted as part of the "Pharmaceutical Propedeutic Internship" using the VR simulator "Virtual Full-Service Pharmacy," developed on the VR application platform Unreal Engine with the Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset. Using the VR simulator or traditional methods, students solved situational tasks (cases) of two types: "Consultation and sale of over-the-counter medications" and "Placement of medicines and pharmacy assortment goods upon receipt in the pharmacy." Students then completed their internship at a prototype pharmacy based on the virtual pharmacy, solving the cases in practice.
Results. The results of the study showed the usefulness of applying VR for mastering practical skills in tasks involving interaction with virtual objects (the case focused on the placement of medicines and pharmacy goods). The survey indicated that students showed a high interest in learning with VR, which points to a positive perception of this technology in the educational process. At the same time, drawbacks related to the management of VR devices and physiological discomfort were identified. A SWOT analysis of the prospects of VR technologies in educational practice confirmed the feasibility of further development and integration into the training of pharmacy students.
Conclusion. The use of VR technologies in the educational process of pharmacy students can improve the results of theoretical training and accelerate adaptation to real-world conditions during subsequent internships, especially in tasks involving active interaction with 3D objects. The discomfort reported by some students from using VR equipment indicates the need for improvements in both the hardware and software components of the simulator.
Keywords
Full Text
About the authors
Denis Vladimirovich Kurkin
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Author for correspondence.
Email: strannik986@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1116-3425
SPIN-code: 8771-1461
Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor, Director of the Scientific and Educational Institute of Pharmacy n.a. K.M. Lakin
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Yury Anatolyevich Kolosov
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: tronk79@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1506-2565
SPIN-code: 7585-8249
Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs, Scientific and Educational Institute of Pharmacy n.a. K.M. Lakin
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Olga Viktorovna Marincheva
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: ovivanova134@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4333-322X
SPIN-code: 1255-6750
Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Head of the laboratory, Scientific and Educational Institute of Pharmacy n.a. K.M. Lakin
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Yulia Vasilyevna Gorbunova
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: yvgorbunova@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6416-0500
SPIN-code: 4881-2615
Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Head of the laboratory, Scientific and Educational Institute of Pharmacy n.a. K.M. Lakin
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Ivan Sergeyevich Krysanov
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: krysanov-ivan@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3541-1120
SPIN-code: 1290-4976
Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the laboratory, Scientific and Educational Institute of Pharmacy n.a. K.M. Lakin
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Valentina Igorevna Zvereva
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: valentinca1988@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5274-3736
SPIN-code: 3025-0252
Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Head of the laboratory, Scientific and Educational Institute of Pharmacy n.a. K.M. Lakin
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Dmitry Alexandrovich Bakulin
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: mbfdoc@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4694-3066
SPIN-code: 3339-7228
Candidate of Medicine Sciences, Head of the Interdepartmental Scientific and Educational Center of Pharmacy, Scientific and Educational Institute of Pharmacy n.a. K.M. Lakin
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Elizaveta Valerievna Pavlova
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: elpavlova@fmlogistic.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0651-3205
Researcher Assistant, Scientific and Educational Institute of Pharmacy named after K.M. Lakin
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Evgeny Igorevich Morkovin
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Volgograd State Medical University” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: e.i.morkovin@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7119-3546
SPIN-code: 4586-8670
Candidate of Medicine Sciences, Associate Professor. Head of the Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Scientific Center for Innovative Medicines
Russian Federation, Pavshikh Bortsov Sq., 1, Volgograd, 400131Igor Djamalovich Mursalov
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: igo2053@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7405-9641
SPIN-code: 8759-9511
Director of the Scientific and Educational Institute of Medical Technologies n.a. S.N. Fedorov
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473Ivan Mikhailovich Naryshkin
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian University of Medicine” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: narivamix@gmail.com
Engineer, Scientific and Educational Institute of Medical Technologies n.a. S.N. Fedorov
Russian Federation, Dolgorukovskaya str., 4, Moscow, 127473References
- Michael J. Where's the evidence that active learning works? Adv Physiol Educ. 2006; 30 (4): 159–67. doi: 10.1152/advan.00053.2006
- Zhuang W., Xiao Q. Facilitate active learning: The role of perceived benefits of using technology. J. of Education for Business. 2018; 93 (3): 88–96. doi: 10.1080/08832323.2018.1425281
- Maarek J.I. Benefits of Active Learning Embedded in Online Content Material Supporting a Flipped Classroom. 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. 2018. doi: 10.18260/1-2--29845
- Shatto B., Erwin K. Teaching Millennials and Generation Z: Bridging the Generational Divide. Creat. Nurs. 2017; 23 (1): 24–8. doi: 10.1891/1078-4535.23.1.24
- Whitley H.P. Active-Learning Diabetes Simulation in an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience to Develop Patient Empathy. Am. J. Pharm. Educ. 2012; 76 (10): 203. doi: 10.5688/ajpe7610203
- Shin S., Park J.H., Kim J.H. Effectiveness of patient simulation in nursing education: Meta-analysis. Nurse Educ. Today. 2015; 35 (1): 76–182. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2014.09.009
- Ray S.M., Wylie D.R., Shaun Rowe A., Heidel E., Franks A.S. Pharmacy Student Knowledge Retention After Completing Either a Simulated or Written Patient Case. Am. J. Pharm. Educ. 2012; 76 (5): 86. doi: 10.5688/ajpe76586
- Shawaqfeh M.S. Gamification as a Learning Method in Pharmacy Education. J. Pharma Care Health Sys. 2015; s2: 1–5. doi: 10.4172/jpchs.S2-004
- Lundquist R. Critical Thinking and the Art of Making Good Mistakes. Teaching in Higher Education. 1999; 4 (4): 523–30. doi: 10.1080/1356251990040408
- Hemming H.E. Encouraging critical thinking: "But ... what does that mean?". McGill Journal of Education. 2000; 35 (2): 173–86.
- Babatunde Y., Adegbite M.A., Oladipo H., Omojuyigbe J., Sampson-Oladipupo E., Ibrahim A., Oziama B., et al. Augmented reality and gamification in pharmacy education: A call for implementation in African countries and other low resource settings. Pharmacy Education. 2023; 23 (1): 7–17. doi: 10.46542/pe.2023.231.717
- Babichenko D., Patel R., Grieve V., Healy, P., Canton S., Littleton E.B., Donnellan N., et al. SterileAR: Exploration of Augmented Reality and Computer Vision Approaches for Real-Time Feedback in Sterile Compounding Training. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN), San Luis Obispo, CA, USA. 2020; 62–9.
- Viglialoro R.M., Condino S., Turini G., Carbone M., Ferrari V., Gesi M. Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, and Hybrid Approach in Healthcare Simulation: A Systematic Review. Applied Sciences, 2021; 11 (5): 2338. doi: 10.3390/app11052338
- Eagleson R., de Ribaupierre S., King S., Stroulia E. Medical education through virtual worlds: the HLTHSIM project. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2011; 163: 180–4.
- Колосов Ю.А., Куркин Д.В., Горбунова Ю.В., Мурсалов И.Д., Нарышкин И.М. Свидетельство о государственной регистрации программы для ЭВМ № RU 2023666115 Российская Федерация. Виртуальная полнофункциональная аптека: №2023664501: заявл. 10.07.2023: опубл. 26.07.2023 [Kolosov Yu.A., Kurkin D.V., Gorbunova Yu.V., Mursalov I.D., Naryshkin I.M. Certificate of State Registration of Computer Software No. RU 2023666115, Russian Federation. Virtual Full-Function Pharmacy: No.2023664501; filed 10.07.2023; published 26.07.2023 (in Russian)].
- Колосов Ю.А., Куркин Д.В., Горбунова Ю.В., Мурсалов И.Д., Нарышкин И.М. Свидетельство о государственной регистрации программы для ЭВМ № RU 2023665630 Российская Федерация. Рабочее место преподавателя ВР-класса: № 2023664475: заявл. 10.07.2023: опубл. 18.07.2023 [Kolosov Yu.A., Kurkin D.V., Gorbunova Yu.V., Mursalov I.D., Naryshkin I.M. Certificate of State Registration of Computer Software No. RU 2023665630, Russian Federation. Instructor's Workplace for a VR-Classroom: No. 2023664475; filed 10.07.2023; published 18.07.2023 (in Russian)].
- Колосов Ю.А., Куркин Д.В., Горбунова Ю.В., Бакулин Д.А., Робертус А.И., Иванова О.В., Бузина Т.С., и др. Химико-фармацевтический журнал. 2024; 58 (1): 42–9. doi: 10.30906/0023-1134-2024-58-1-42-49 [Kolosov Yu.A., Kurkin D.V., Gorbunova Yu.V., Bakulin D.A., Robertus A.I., Ivanova O.V., Buzina T.S., et al. Technology of virtual reality in pharmacy. Pharmaceutical Chemistry J. 2024; 58 (1): 42–9 (in Russian)].
Supplementary files
