Understanding, Experience, and Attitudes Toward Extended Reality Technology: A Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Health Informatics
• Digital Health

Background:

• Extended Reality Technology (XRT) is poised to transform healthcare delivery.
• Adoption barriers include cost, space, side effects, and limited understanding.
• Assessing junior doctors' perspectives is crucial for future integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore barriers to XRT adoption in healthcare.
• To assess junior doctors' understanding, experience, and attitudes toward XRT.
• To identify potential applications of XRT in medical education and training.

Main Methods:

• Multi-method, cross-sectional study involving junior doctors in North West England.
• Bespoke data capture tool assessing understanding, experience, and attitudes.
• Objective knowledge tests and Likert-style self-assessment questionnaires were used.

Main Results:

• Low mean objective knowledge score (4.3/10) and median self-assessed knowledge score (3.0/6.0).
• Limited self-assessed experience with XRT (median score 2.2/6.0).
• High interest in XRT for medical education (93%) and belief in its effectiveness (94%).

Conclusions:

• Junior doctors exhibit a significant knowledge and experience gap regarding XRT.
• There is substantial enthusiasm for leveraging XRT in medical education.
• Widespread adoption requires increased awareness of XRT's capabilities and limitations within the NHS.