Objective  To conduct a bibliometric analysis of the application of virtual reality (VR) technology in the field of medical education, with the aim of exploring the current research status, hotpots and developmental trends in this field.

Methods  Relevant literature on the application of VR technology in medical education or teaching was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database from January 2003 to September 2023. Advanced softwares such as CiteSpace 6.1.R6 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 were utilized to analyze the countries and regions, institutions, journals, co-cited references, keywords, and to visualize the scientific knowledge map.

Results  A total of 1 621 articles were included. The publication volume in this field experienced rapid growth after 2018, with the United States playing a predominant role in its development. China ranked the fifth in included volume, although the influence of these publications remains to be enhanced. Research focal points encompassed surgical simulation, skill training, and distance learning.

Conclusion  The application of VR technology in the field of medical education is increasingly gaining recognition. Further recommendations advocate for an intensified exploration of this field, providing novel directions for the future medical education.

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