Head-mounted display-based (HMD) vs desktop-based (DB) virtual reality anatomy: a preliminary usability study

Zamli, Zaitunnatakhin and Ramli, Rohaini and Sulaiman, Hidayah and Che Azemin, Mohd Zulfaezal and Wan Salleh, Wan Muhamad Salahudin and Yusof, Nurul Asyiqin and Mahalil, Imran and Mohd. Yusof, Azmi (2025) Head-mounted display-based (HMD) vs desktop-based (DB) virtual reality anatomy: a preliminary usability study. The Asia Pacific Scholar, 10 (3). pp. 80-83. ISSN 2424-9335 E-ISSN 2424-9270

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Abstract

Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) has been widely used in medical and health sciences education since the late twentieth century. VR complements the conventional teaching and learning (T&L) approach by providing an engaging and immersive 3D spatial learning environment, especially for understanding the orientation of anatomical structures. Despite these advantages, the usability and student preference of highly immersive head-mounted display-based (HMD) and less immersive desktop-based (DB) VR in human anatomy courses have yet to be determined. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 49 Year-2 medical students were recruited through a convenient sampling. The participants were asked to identify 15 skeletal system components using the HMD and DB platform with human anatomy VR application. Both applications’ System Usability Scale (SUS) and preference scores were obtained via a self-administered questionnaire. The data were expressed as median [IQR] and statistically analysed using MATLAB R2022b. Results: Most participants preferred the HMD over the DB platform (p=0.04), especially the male participants (p=0.01). There was no significant difference in overall SUS scores between both platforms (p=0.14). However, when compared within and between genders, females scored significantly higher in the DB than HMD (p=0.02) and higher than males’ DB SUS scores (p=0.03). Conclusion: The overall usability of HMD was comparable with the DB platform for learning human anatomy. Although most participants prefer to use the HMD, further exploration of why females prefer the DB is needed. Subsequently, VR application developers must consider gender-related adaptions to promote the equitability and inclusivity of the technology for all users.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Human Anatomy, Virtual Reality, Head-mounted Display, Desktop-based Application, Usability, Preference
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Biomedical Science (Effective:1st July 2011)
Depositing User:	Zaitunnatakhin Zamli
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2025 09:39
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2025 09:39
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/121850

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