Perception of health programme students on the use of an augmented reality tool in anatomical practices

Abstract

Introduction. Augmented reality in the medical field has continuously grown, supporting theoretical and practical components. This technology presents a safe environment for experimentation for health science students. Objective. This research analyses theacceptance of health science students with the augmented reality tool HOLOMARKERS. It allows the user to place virtual pins on human biological material to achieve labelling of tissues, muscles, and organs, avoiding direct contact with the sample. Methodology. A technology acceptance model analyses the influence of HOLOMARKERS on student acceptance. Each core of the model has four Likert-scale questions. The sample size surveyed is 17 health science students. Four cores structure a technology acceptance model: theoretical background, acceptance of use, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of use; analyses of the acceptance of HOLOMARKERS by students. Results. Perceived usefulness of the tool and the students’ previous theoretical background influence the acceptance of tool. Conclusion. The students surveyed highlighted the usefulness of HOLOMARKERS for developing practices in the macroscopic anatomy laboratory with human biological material.