JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The outbreak of COVID-19 has now become a pandemic. It has had a serious adverse impact on global public health. What we know about COVID-19 is through the traditional two-dimensional CT, which requires high spatial imagination.

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to apply 3D hologram with mixed reality techniques for better understanding the pulmonary lesions of COVID-19.

Methods:

The study involved 60 participants, including 20 radiologists, 20 surgeons , and 20 medical students. Each of the three groups was randomly divided into two groups, 2D CT group (N=30; mean age: 29 years [rang: 19–38]; men= 20) and 3D holographic group (N=30; mean age: 30 years [range: 20–38]; men= 20). Two groups completed the same task to identify 6 cases of the lesion area of COVID-19 with a 2D CT or 3D hologram of the lung. Finally, an independent radiology professor rated the participants' performance (out of 100). All participants in two groups completed a Likert-scale questionnaire regarding the educational utility and efficiency of 3D holograms. NASA Task Load Index were completed by all participants.

Results:

In the mixed reality group, the task score ( 91.98±2.45 ) were significantly higher than that of in the conventional group ( 74.09 ±7.59 ), with P≤ 0.01. With the help of 3D holograms, surgeons and medical students achieved the same score as radiologists and made obvious progress in identifying the pulmonary lesions of COVID - 19. Likert-scale Questionnaire show that 3D Holograms group had more advantages than the 2D CT group (teaching: median scores for 2D CT, 2; interquartile range [IQR], 1-2 vs MR, 5; IQR,5-5; P＜0.01; understanding and communicating: 2D CT,1; IQR, 1-1 vs MR, 5; IQR, 5-5 ; P＜0.01; increasing interest: 2D CT, 2 ; IQR, 2-2 vs MR, 5; IQR, 5-5; P＜0.01; lowering the learning curve: 2D CT,2; IQR, 1-2 vs MR, 4; IQR, 4-5; P＜0.01; spatial awareness: 2D CT,2; IQR, 1-2 vs MR, 5; IQR, 5-5; P＜0.01; learning: 2D CT, 3 ; IQR, 2-3 vs MR, 5; IQR, 5-5; P＜0.01 ). Mean rating for each subscale in NASA-TLX. 3D Holograms group scored significantly lower “mental”, “temporal”, “performance” and “frustration” than usual 2D CT support.

Conclusions:

A 3D hologram with mixed reality techniques can be used for better understanding the pulmonary lesions of COVID-19, especially for medical students and young doctors who are newly hired. It can be used in medical education, increasing interest, making it easier to understand, better spatial awareness and lowering the learning curve. Clinical Trial: Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100045845