Virtual Reality Simulation as a Tool for ENT Training: An Autoethnographic Study

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation
• Virtual Reality Training

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising tool for surgical training.
• Temporal bone (TB) drilling simulation is crucial for otologic surgery proficiency.
• Autoethnography provides a unique lens for understanding the trainee experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing novice surgical skill acquisition in VR temporal bone drilling.
• To apply autoethnography as a novel methodology in surgical simulation research.
• To identify key learning elements and challenges in VR surgical training.

Main Methods:

• Autoethnography was employed, combining researcher's personal experience with systematic analysis.
• The researcher, a surgical novice, completed 16 sessions on the Voxel-Man TempoSurg (VMT) simulator over 8 months.
• Qualitative data from field notes and journals were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, alongside quantitative assessment scores.

Main Results:

• Six themes emerged: VMT as a learning tool, technological challenges, physical impacts, inaccuracy from rushing, value of reflection and feedback, and overcoming demotivation.
• Three themes offered novel insights into VR simulation: tool utility, technical hurdles, and physical strain.
• Three themes corroborated existing knowledge on skill acquisition: impact of haste, feedback importance, and managing demotivation.

Conclusions:

• Autoethnography is a valuable, novel approach for studying surgical skill acquisition in VR simulation.
• Understanding the identified themes can enhance VR temporal bone drilling training programs.
• This research provides a foundation for future studies and improved surgical education outcomes.