Introduction: the anatomy of the systemic circulation involves the functioning of the heart chambers and blood vessels, aimed at transporting oxygenated blood to peripheral tissues. Objective: to design an educational mobile application that facilitates the understanding and teaching-learning process of the anatomy of blood pathways for medical students through the implementation of interactive technologies. Method: an innovation-type research study was conducted. The JavaScript programming language was used for Android. The study was divided into two phases: product development and validation. A group of 25 experts in medical education, technology, and human anatomy was selected. The following variables were used for validation: quality of educational content, interactivity of functionalities, accessibility, effectiveness in visual representation of anatomical concepts, clarity of navigation, consistency of technical performance, and graphical interface. A scoring system based on a 10-point scale was implemented, followed by a basic descriptive analysis of the collected data. Results: an educational software was developed that allows user interaction regarding the systemic circulation, utilizing graphics and interactive animations to explore the trajectory of blood through the circulatory system. The experts evaluated the software and concluded that it possesses suitable functionalities for application in medical teaching. Conclusions: Hemovías is a software capable of interacting with users through descriptive videos of the anatomy of the systemic circulation, providing a dynamic educational experience.
educational software, interactive teaching, Human anatomy, Systemic circulation.
The goal of teaching models is to intervene in pedagogical processes to optimize student competencies and, at the same time, facilitate the teaching process. This requires establishing an organized structure with the necessary control elements that allow for the redesign of teaching design or planning [1], [2] .
It is a reality that technology is increasingly present in current times and this must be reflected in schools and classrooms. This allows for dynamic interaction between teachers and students. The favorable change that these innovations cause in student learning can be observed. Classes are motivating, which stimulates the effectiveness and efficiency of knowledge in the teaching-learning process [3], [4], [5] .
software is an important tool for supporting and sustaining the teaching-learning process. It is recognized that it influences the process of autonomous, independent, and self-regulated learning [6], [7] .
The teaching of anatomy, particularly the anatomy of the blood vessels, is fundamental to the training of medical students. Learning based on dynamic, software-supported images is more effective compared to learning from conventional static images. Hence the importance of incorporating applications into the study of anatomy [8], [9], [10] .
An example of this is the " MemoFlashcards " application, which is presented as a valuable tool for medical students in their preparation for key exams. This application, which uses the flashcard technique , offers detailed questions and answers, accompanied by images and mnemonics that facilitate memorization, and stands out among other mobile applications that seek to improve learning in the medical field [11] .
Traditional anatomy teaching methods, which rely on static images and text, are insufficient to illustrate the complexity and dynamics of the circulatory system. The major circulation, in particular, presents significant challenges for students, who often struggle to visualize and understand its functioning.
This limits students' ability to grasp and retain key concepts, highlighting the need to develop tools that integrate video and multimedia to enrich the anatomy learning process. In response to the identified problem, the objective of this research is to design an educational mobile application that facilitates the understanding and teaching-learning process of blood vessel anatomy in medical students through the implementation of interactive technologies.
A technological innovation research project was conducted from February 2022 to February 2023 at the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Bayamo. General methods were also used: dialectical-materialist, and theoretical methods: historical-logical and analytical-synthetic.
For the information search, an exhaustive bibliographic review was conducted to consolidate and analyze the most up-to-date information available on the topic. The search was conducted in recognized databases, including Scielo, EBSCO, PubMed, Elsevier, Medline, Medigraph , Dialnet, and national and international open-access journals. Specific terms in Spanish and English were used, such as: educational software, interactive teaching, human anatomy, and major circulation. The logical operators AND and OR were used to increase the specificity and relevance of the results.
For the creation of the Hemovías application, the JavaScript programming language was selected due to its versatility and compatibility with Android devices . The application structure was developed in HTML (HyperText Markup Language ) , and a development environment such as Visual Studio Code was used for writing and debugging the code. Additional technologies such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets ) were integrated for visual design, and JavaScript libraries for implementing interactive logic and animations.
Two strategies were implemented to ensure the efficiency, reliability, and usability of the software in the educational context: the computerized approach and expert judgment.
| Participants | Amount |
|---|---|
| Specialists in the biological bases of medicine | 7 |
| Computer engineers | 12 |
| Specialists in clinical sciences | 6 |
| Total | 25 |
Each expert and user evaluated the application using a 10-point scoring system, considering key aspects such as the quality of the educational content, the interactivity of the features, accessibility, the effectiveness of the visual representation of anatomical concepts, clarity of navigation, consistency of technical performance, and the graphical interface. The evaluations were collected and subjected to basic descriptive analysis, with the calculation of the mean, median, and standard deviation to identify patterns and areas for improvement.
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, ensuring their voluntary participation and the right to withdraw at any time. Data were treated confidentially; the analysis and presentation of results were conducted honestly and without bias. Furthermore, the institution's ethical and regulatory standards were respected to ensure that the study was conducted with integrity, protecting the rights and well-being of participants at all times.
The technological innovation product Hemovías is an educational software . The software 's home page is shown in FIGURE 1 , which displays the application's main menu.
FIGURE 1 : Mobile app home page.
It provides a detailed visual representation of blood flow from the heart to peripheral tissues. Interactive graphics and animations are used to explore the path of blood through the circulatory system. FIGURE 2 .
FIGURE 2 : Representation of the circulation from the heart to the kidneys.
The app was evaluated on a variety of Android devices with varying technical specifications, including different screen sizes, resolutions, and operating system versions ( TABLE 2 ). This approach ensured that the app performed optimally across a wide range of hardware. The app demonstrated stability and consistent performance in 100% of cases.
| Devices | Screen Size | Resolution | Operating System | Results Obtained |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S7 (2016) | 5.1 inches | 2560 x 1440 pixels | Android 6.0 (upgradable) | Stability and optimal performance |
| Xiaomi Redmi 7 (2019) | 6.26 inches | 1520 x 720 pixels | Android 9.0 (upgradable) | Stability and optimal performance |
| HTC One M8 (2014) | 5.0 inches | 1920 x 1080 pixels | Android 4.4 (upgradable) | Stability and optimal performance |
| LG G4 (2015) | 5.5 inches | 2560 x 1440 pixels | Android 5.1 (upgradable) | Stability and optimal performance |
| Sony Xperia Z3 (2014) | 5.2 inches | 1920 x 1080 pixels | Android 4.4 (upgradable) | Stability and optimal performance |
According to expert criteria, the application received an average score of 9.7 out of 10 points. The criteria with the lowest scores were the interactivity of the features and the graphical interface, each with 9 points. TABLE 3 .
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Quality of educational content | 10 |
| Interactivity of the functionalities | 9 |
| Accessibility | 10 |
| Effectiveness in the visual representation of anatomical concepts | 10 |
| Clarity in navigation | 10 |
| Consistency of technical performance | 10 |
| Graphic interface | 9 |
| Average | 9.7 |
Calculation of the average
Average = 68/7
≈9.7
Median
First the scores were ordered: 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10
Since there are 7 scores (an odd number), the median is the fourth value in the ordered list: 10.
Standard Deviation
σ=N∑(xi −μ ) 2
Where:
μ is the mean
xison the scores
N is the number of scores
The procedure followed for the calculation was as follows:
Calculation of the mean : the arithmetic mean of the scores was determined and a value of 9.7 was obtained.
Calculation of squared differences : For each score xi , the difference from the mean (xi−μ) was calculated and squared.
Sum of quadratic differences : the sum of all the quadratic differences obtained in the previous step was performed.
Calculating the variance : This sum was divided by the total number of evaluations N to obtain the variance.
Calculating the standard deviation : The square root of the variance value was taken, resulting in a standard deviation of 45.
The descriptive analysis of the scores revealed a mean of 9.7, indicating a positive assessment by the experts. The median score, which reached a maximum of 10, suggests that at least half of the evaluators awarded the maximum rating. The estimated standard deviation of 0.45 indicates that the scores are clustered around the mean, demonstrating a high degree of consensus among the evaluators on the quality of the application.
Worldwide, the development of higher education has been linked to the advancement of technology. It is considered that the generation of new knowledge and its technological applications have generally emerged on university campuses. It is not surprising that new technologies are being implemented every day for the development of higher education, allowing for better transmission of information, as well as the development of digital skills in university students and professors [12] .
Previous studies have highlighted the importance of ICTs (information and communications technologies) in information management and communication development; they enable us to act upon them and generate greater and new knowledge and intelligence. It can be asserted that since their emergence and use, they have been fundamental pillars of society and education [13], [14] .
Digital teaching resources, like physical ones, must have an educational purpose, helping to strengthen learning, both previously acquired and new. Thus, when teachers generate and use them in the teaching-learning process, they move from solely using virtual platforms related to ICTs to using learning and knowledge technologies (TACs) [14], [15], [16] .
Anatomy forms the basis of medical practice, enabling physical examination and the use of the most modern imaging techniques. Despite this importance, the current status of the teaching and learning of anatomy and other basic biomedical sciences faces major challenges: the advancement of medicine and its diagnostic and therapeutic tools [17] .
Hemovías is positioned as an advanced educational tool focused on systemic blood circulation, aimed at university students, and is characterized by its detailed and specific content. In contrast, Anatomolde is designed for secondary school students, focusing on basic anatomy and physiology, which limits its depth in the treatment of complex topics, such as those related to blood circulation [18] .
This differentiation in focus and content complexity highlights Hemovías 's ability to meet the educational needs of a more specialized audience, making it a valuable resource for health sciences training.
While Anatomy 3D and AnatomyLearning offer three-dimensional visual representations that allow for the exploration of anatomical structures [19] , Hemovias focuses specifically on systemic blood circulation, providing more detailed and specialized content that addresses anatomical complexities relevant to university students. It also incorporates interactive learning resources, such as explanatory videos, that facilitate a deeper and more dynamic understanding of circulation-related concepts.
In contrast to similar applications, which are typically in English and do not comprehensively address specific anatomy topics, Hemovías stands out as an accessible, free, and Spanish-language educational tool. By offering detailed content tailored to the needs of university students, Hemovías becomes a key teaching resource for enriching health sciences teaching and democratizing access to relevant, high-quality information.
An interactive educational application was developed; usability and performance testing, as well as expert assessments, confirmed that Hemovías is effective in an academic context, standing out for its ability to provide a detailed understanding of anatomical concepts. Its free accessibility and specific focus on blood circulation reinforce its value as an educational tool for teaching human anatomy.
BCSR: conceptualization, research, methodology, writing – review and editing.
RJPH: conceptualization, research, methodology, writing – review and editing
VLPC: research, methodology, writing – original draft.
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
The authors did not receive funding for the development of this article.
Copyright 2024 Mailín Agüero Barrero et al.
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