Collaborative Team Training in Virtual Reality is Superior to Individual Learning For Performing Complex Open...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Virtual Reality Technology
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Teamwork in the operating room (OR) is crucial for improving technical performance and patient outcomes.
• Immersive virtual reality (iVR) has shown potential for individual surgical training.
• The efficacy of iVR for team-based surgical training remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if multiplayer immersive virtual reality (iVR) training is superior to single-player training for acquiring both technical and nontechnical surgical skills.
• To investigate the impact of team-based iVR training on surgical performance in a simulated environment.

Main Methods:

• Forty participants were randomized into either individual or team iVR training groups, completing 5 sessions over 6 weeks.
• Participants performed a simulated anterior approach total hip arthroplasty using high-fidelity models and real equipment.
• Performance was assessed by blinded evaluators using standardized nontechnical skills scores, procedure duration, and technical error counts.

Main Results:

• Teams trained in multiplayer iVR demonstrated significantly higher nontechnical skills scores compared to individually trained participants.
• Multiplayer iVR training resulted in a 33% reduction in procedure duration.
• Participants in the team iVR group made less than half the number of technical errors compared to the individual training group.

Conclusions:

• Multiplayer immersive virtual reality (iVR) training enhances the acquisition of both technical and nontechnical surgical skills.
• Team-based iVR training leads to more efficient and safer surgical performance.
• This study highlights the potential of multiplayer iVR for effective surgical team training.