Immersion in the anatomical dissection room using a virtual reality headset to reduce medical student anxiety: A randomized controlled trial.

Anatomical dissection is a fundamental component of medical education but is often associated with significant student anxiety that is hence important to consider. This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess whether immersive preparation using a 360° virtual reality (VR) video could reduce anxiety and stress in medical students prior to their first dissection experience. Second-year medical students at a single medical school in France, with no prior exposure to the dissection room, were randomized to either (1) an intervention group that received a VR-based immersive tour of the dissection environment, or (2) a control group that received a conventional introduction with photos and videos. The primary outcome was change in state anxiety, measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State) before and after the intervention. Secondary outcomes included physiological stress measured by heart rate and overall satisfaction with the educational experience. A total of 233 students were analyzed (intervention group: n = 87; control group: n = 146), with comparable baseline demographic and psychological characteristics. Following the intervention, the intervention group showed a slight decrease in STAI-State score (from 46.7 to 46.5), whereas the control group experienced an increase (from 45.6 to 46.2), resulting in a statistically significant between-group difference (p = 0.048). Changes in heart rate during dissection did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.317). Among students exposed to VR, the overall satisfaction with practical sessions was rated 7.6/10 (SD 1.2). Taken together, the present findings showed that immersive VR preparation modestly but significantly reduced pre-dissection anxiety, with high acceptability among medical students.