Perception, knowledge and attitude of learners about the use of 3D technologies in manual therapy education – A qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives The current paradigm of teaching manual therapy is ‘teacher centred’ and may not enable learners to develop the complex clinical skills of manual therapy. 3D technologies such as virtual reality may facilitate the teaching and learning of manual therapy. Hence the aim of the current study was to investigate the perception, knowledge and attitude of manual therapy learners about the use of 3D technologies in manual therapy education.Design: In-depth interviews; data analysed using thematic analysis.Setting: online.Participants 10 manual therapy students (age =32 (Range19-58); 80% females).Results: Five factors were identified which appeared to influence participants’ perception of role of technology in manual therapy education. These were (1) Sufficiency of current teaching method; (2) Evolution as a learner (novice to expert); (3) Need for objectivity; (4) Tutor feedback; and (5) Barriers and enablers. These five factors influenced the participants’ perception about the role of 3D technologies in manual therapy education with participants evidently taking two distinct/polarized positions (‘no role’ (techstatic) versus a ‘complete role’ (techsavvy)). Conclusions Participants in this study held a range of views regarding the role of 3D technologies in manual therapy education. Although 3D technology may not replace face-to-face teaching, it may be used to complement the traditional “see one, do one” approach of learning/teaching to facilitate the learning of complex skills by manual therapy learners. The advantage of such an approach is an area of future research.

Lived Experiences of Hospitality Management Students on Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning Process: A Transcendental Phenomenology

“…This highlights the critical role that technology acceptance plays in shaping the overall learning experience and outcomes for students. Additionally, the study by Sampath et al (2022) delves into learners' perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes regarding the use of 3D technologies in manual therapy education, showcasing how different factors influence participants' views on technology in education.…”