Virtual reality simulation for mastery learning of wrist radiograph technique

Virtual reality (VR) simulation is a technology that empowers students and radiographers to practice radiography in a virtual environment that resembles real-life clinical scenarios. The purpose of this randomised study was to examine the relationship between clinical specialty and the ability to assess and obtain a lateral wrist radiograph using a VR simulator.

Radiographers and radiography students were recruited from the EFRS Research Hub at the 2024 European Congress of Radiology. After completing a background questionnaire, participants entered a VR simulator where they assessed lateral wrist radiographs and, if necessary, attempted a retake. Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate the relationship between specialties and participants' ability to assess positioning and perform retakes. Rank-biserial correlation estimated the relationship between participants' ability to reposition the VR patient and their VR experience and self-perceived confidence in wrist radiograph positioning.

The cohort included 173 participants from 14 specialties across 21 countries. There was a borderline significant trend between clinical specialty and correct positioning assessment (p = 0.052) and between self-perceived confidence in acquiring wrist radiographs and repositioning for a retake (p = 0.052). Neither clinical specialty (p = 0.480) nor previous VR experience (p = 0.409) correlated with ability to reposition for a retake.

While results indicated a potential correlation between participants' ability to position a VR patient and both clinical specialty and confidence in wrist radiography, these trends were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that VR holds promise for radiography training, though further research is necessary to explore the factors that influence performance and learning.

The incorporation of VR technology into standard radiography training programs could potentially improve patient outcomes by ensuring that radiography students are more skilled at acquiring quality radiographs prior to their first clinical practice. It should be noted though, that knowledge on positioning criteria and anatomy is an advantage when practicing correct positioning in a VR simulator.