A Feasibility Study of Virtual Reality and 360° Video Training for Anterior Nasal Packing

Virtual reality (VR) simulators have been well established in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) training for many years. However, most are aimed at specialist trainee level or above, with no current VR ENT training packages for foundation year doctors, who perform a significant amount of out-of-hours ENT care. Novel VR and 360° video packages for the training of anterior nasal packing were developed and evaluated.

In this feasibility study, 16 foundation year doctors were pseudorandomised to a three-arm study: using solely the VR simulation, solely the 360° video, or the video followed by the VR simulation. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were devised using expert consensus, and confidence, competence, objective knowledge, usability, face and content validity, and qualitative data were all evaluated.

There was a significant increase between pre- and post-intervention confidence, competence, and knowledge for the whole cohort. The 360° video used alongside the VR simulation and alone was deemed user-friendly. All packages achieved content validity, whilst the VR simulation did not achieve face validity, with responses indicating that the haptic feedback requires improvement. Participants found the packages engaging and immersive, encouraging safe practice in an enjoyable manner.

These novel VR and 360° videos are engaging ways of effectively increasing confidence, competence, and knowledge in anterior nasal packing. Further adjustments should be made to the haptic feedback of the VR simulator to make it more realistic.

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