Creation of Digital and 3D-Printed Models to Teach the Mechanisms of Action of Benzodiazepines (BZDs) to Veterinary Medicine Students.

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are commonly administered as pre-anesthetic medications in veterinary practice. Understanding the mechanisms of action and function of these compounds in patient animals is thus of utmost importance when training in veterinary medicine. This subject is typically taught through expository lectures using flat diagrams. However, the use of three-dimensional (3D) models could increase students' learning levels and reduce the degree of abstraction related to BZDs. Therefore, the present study aimed to create and evaluate 3D models representing benzodiazepine drugs and their binding sites. We hypothesized that 3D models of benzodiazepines (3D BZDs) could be used effectively as teaching tools, making it possible to learn about the mechanisms of action and their functions during the training of veterinary medicine students. In this study, 52 students from a veterinary medicine course participated and were divided equally into two groups: the 3D group (G3D) comprised students who used 3D BZDs, and the control group (CG) comprised students who used flat schemes for learning. A pre-test, post-test, and satisfaction questionnaire (each comprising 10 questions) were used to assess the student performance in both groups. Between the pre-tests and post-tests, the G3D group showed greater improvements in their scores than the CG group, suggesting that use of 3D BZDs was effective at promoting student learning. The satisfaction evaluation revealed good acceptance of the methodology employed. In conclusion, the use of 3D printed models can contribute to learning pharmacology and anesthesiology.