Could virtual reality be a solution in surgical trainings in resource-restricted settings? A perspective

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Health Technology

Background:

• Surgical conditions represent 11% of the global disease burden, necessitating robust surgeon training.
• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant disparities in surgical access due to a shortage of trained surgeons.
• Traditional surgical training methods, like cadaver use, present ethical, logistical, and financial barriers in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) as an alternative for surgical education in resource-constrained environments.
• To address the challenges in surgical training within LMICs.
• To identify key considerations for implementing VR in surgical education.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on VR applications in medical training.
• Analysis of challenges in surgical education in LMICs.
• Exploration of VR's advantages over traditional methods.

Main Results:

• VR technology presents a viable solution to overcome limitations of traditional surgical training methods.
• VR can enhance surgical skill acquisition and potentially improve patient outcomes.
• Implementation requires careful consideration of technological, financial, and pedagogical factors.

Conclusions:

• VR holds significant potential to revolutionize surgical education, especially in resource-limited areas.
• Adoption of VR can help mitigate healthcare disparities by increasing access to quality surgical training.
• Further research and strategic planning are needed for effective VR integration into surgical curricula.