3D Modalities for Medical Student Education of Congenital Heart Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if 3D-printed heart models and augmented reality can be useful modalities to teach medical students about congenital heart disease. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does using 3D-printed heart models improve learners' understanding of congenital heart disease when compared to traditional slide-based teaching methods? 2. Does using augmented reality heart models improve learners' understanding of congenital heart disease when compared to traditional slide-based teaching methods? 3. How can these modalities best be integrated into standard medical school curricula?

Participants will:

1. Take a pre-test consisting of questions regarding anatomy and physiology of the normal heart as well as two congenital heart diseases. 2. Be randomized into 3 groups that receive a teaching session using either slide-based lecture, 3D-printed models, or augmented reality. 3. Take a post-test of the same questions from the pre-test. 4. Take a delayed post-test of the same questions with additional subjective questions about their experience with their assigned modality.

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Key information

Conditions

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) Cardiovascular Abnormalities Cardiovascular Diseases Congenital Abnormalities Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Heart Defects, Congenital Heart Diseases Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) Tetralogy of Fallot

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

First year medical student

Exclusion criteria

Treatment and study plan

3D-printed heart models and augmented reality

Other

Participants will receive an educational session regarding congenital heart disease using a slide-based lecture, 3D-printed models, or augmented reality headsets.

Primary outcomes

Changes in Pre and Post-test Scores

Time frame: Enrollment Pre-Intervention, Baseline Post-Intervention, and 3 Weeks Post-Intervention

Participants completed a 16-item, multiple choice questionnaire about the anatomy and physiology of the normal heart and two complex congenital heart defects. The questionnaire is broken down into 4 questions on basic cardiology and 6 questions each pertaining specifically to tetralogy of Fallot and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The questionnaire is delivered pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and again at 3-weeks post intervention. Correct answers are scored as true (1) and incorrect answers scored as false (0) with a score range of 0-16 with higher scores indicating better retention and understanding of the curriculum.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Case Western Reserve University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Use of 3D-printed Models and Augmented Reality in Medical Student Education of Congenital Heart Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Dec 22, 2025
Registry last updated: Dec 26, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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