3D digital environment modeling and education application for X-ray imaging devices

Health refers to people being in a state of complete social, physical and mental well-being. Today, health education plays a critical role in helping individuals reach this holistic understanding of health and in educating health professionals in a qualified manner. In addition to traditional education methods, digital education and simulation technologies are increasingly used in health education. Digital education eliminates time and space constraints. It offers students a more accessible learning environment. At the same time, it provides a practical learning opportunity. Digital education in health offers students the opportunity to experience theory and practice together. In this way, the quality of health services increases. In this study, modeling of the three-dimensional (3D) digital education environment developed for x-ray imaging devices and x-ray shooting positions are discussed. 3D models were created using Blender software. These models were animated with the Unity game engine. The developed educational application is designed for radiology students and x-ray technicians. The application aims to enable users to learn x-ray positions and provide practical training. This application has a structure that can simulate 9 main categories and 95 different x-ray positions. The application is designed to be compatible with both desktop applications and mobile devices. The main purpose of the application is to help radiology students practically reinforce the theoretical knowledge they have learned and to make it easier for x-ray technicians to learn the shooting positions they have forgotten or know incompletely. Each x-ray position is supported by animations, ensuring users have a lifelike experience. While the patient character is positioned, the x-ray machine automatically positions itself at the correct angles and positions. The position is examined in detail from different distances and angles. The resulting X-ray image can also be analyzed in detail. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the application developed within the scope of this study, a survey was organized and feedback was collected from 47 participants with a Likert scale of 30 questions. According to the survey results:86.24% of the participants evaluated the application's fidelity and ease of use positively. 11.28% were undecided, which indicates the potential for the application to be developed in some areas. 2.48% of the participants gave negative feedback, which is quite low. The survey results reveal that the application was highly appreciated in terms of its graphic quality, user-friendly interface and educational effectiveness. Participants stated that the application successfully simulates real-world environments with 3D modeling and that it will be useful to integrate it into educational processes. Integrating digital educational tools into health education improves the quality of health care by improving the practical skills of students and technicians. As a result, this developed digital x-ray training application stands out as an effective practical training tool for radiology students and x-ray technicians. This application ensures that theoretical knowledge is reinforced with practical experiences during training processes, enabling users to actively participate in the learning processes and improve their skills in x-ray positions.