Teaching the management of trauma patients through virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) fully immersive interactive video teaching (VR FIIT) allows learners to develop through observing and interacting with complex realistic environments, developing technical and nontechnical skills. One such complex clinical environment is managing a trauma patient. Despite the significant developments in managing these patients, foundation doctors are frequently highly anxious due to their limited knowledge and experience. The aim of this project was twofold; to improve foundation doctor performance of managing trauma patients and to reduce their associated anxiety, through the use of VR teaching.

A total of 14 foundation doctors were divided into two groups. One group underwent departmental teaching. The second group underwent departmental teaching and VR FIIT. We assessed the doctors via two methods. First, time taken to complete tasks correctly in trauma simulations was compared. Second, the doctors completed a self-reported level-based assessment questionnaire regarding anxiety and stress around trauma calls.

The VR FIIT intervention group were able to complete each task on average 118s faster than the standard group. The standard group missed essential tasks such as C-spine immobilisation. The VR FIIT group self-reported significantly lower levels of anxiety related to trauma calls.

VR teaching improves foundation doctor performance at managing simulated major trauma patients and decreases foundation doctor anxiety towards management and exposure of these clinical situations.