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A Virtual Reality Resident Training Curriculum on Behavioral Health Anticipatory Guidance: Development and Usability
Rachel Herbst1,2, Tiffany Rybak1, Andrea Meisman3
1Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
|June 3, 2021
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) training effectively teaches pediatric residents behavioral health anticipatory guidance, enhancing skills and addressing a critical gap in medical education. This immersive approach is feasible and realistic for clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Behavioral Health
- Virtual Reality Technology
Background:
- Behavioral health disorders are increasing, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Pediatric resident training in behavioral health anticipatory guidance is limited and challenged by social distancing.
- Virtual reality (VR) simulations offer a solution for training in behavioral health competencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the usability of a VR-based curriculum for pediatric residents' behavioral health anticipatory guidance.
- To assess resident immersion and gather feedback on the VR curriculum's content and format.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods study involving 14 third-year pediatric residents.
- Residents completed a VR curriculum and the MEC Spatial Presence Questionnaire.
- Semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed using conventional content analysis.
Main Results:
- Residents reported high immersion, spatial presence, and cognitive involvement in the VR simulation.
- Qualitative analysis revealed themes of expanded knowledge/skills and VR's unique position for competence development.
- Residents found the VR curriculum immersive, feasible, realistic, and a safe learning environment.
Conclusions:
- VR shows promise as an effective tool for teaching pediatric residents behavioral health anticipatory guidance.
- The VR curriculum addresses a significant gap in current medical education training.
- This training is particularly relevant given increased family behavioral health concerns post-COVID-19.
