Abstract:Introduction
The use of immersive virtual reality simulated learning environments (VR SLEs) for improving clinical communication can offer desirable qualities including repetition and determinism in a safe environment. The aim of this study was to establish whether the mode of delivery, VR SLE versus clinical role‐play, could have a measurable effect on clinical empathic communication skills for MRI scenarios.
Methods
A split‐cohort study was performed with trainee practitioners (n = 70) and qualified practiti… Show more
“… 17 , 18 A final 4 of 22 articles focused on measuring empathy response after VR/AR intervention and were grouped in a separate category. 22 , 23 , 25 , 35 …”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…VR-based studies contained a large variety of interventions—all with the aim of improving medical communication. Different intervention types included: 4 of 17 studies using VR to simulate a patient encounter, 15 , 31 , 33 , 36 4 of 17 implementing a VR teaching curriculum, 16 , 23 , 33 , 35 2 of 17 providing a VR video game experience, 18 , 22 4 of 17 using VR to educate patients, 20 , 29 , 30 , 34 2 of 17 using the headsets to view video recordings, 17 , 25 and 3 of 17 using headsets to view 3D models. Interventions involving 3D model viewing were mostly associated with patient education, 28 - 30 or facilitation of faster and easier preoperative planning.…”
Communication between clinicians and patients and communication within clinical teams is widely recognized as a tool through which improved patient outcomes can be achieved. As emerging technologies, there is a notable lack of commentary on the role of immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in enhancing medical communication. This scoping review aims to map the current landscape of literature on this topic and highlights gaps in the evidence to inform future endeavors. A comprehensive search strategy was conducted across 3 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase), yielding 1000 articles, of which 623 were individually screened for relevance. Ultimately, 22 articles were selected for inclusion and review. Similarities across the cohort of studies included small sample sizes, observational study design, use of questionnaires, and more VR studies than AR. The majority of studies found these technologies to improve medical communication, although user tolerability limitations were identified. More studies are required, presenting more robust findings, in order to draw more definitive conclusions and stronger recommendations for use of immersive VR/AR in clinical environments.
“… 17 , 18 A final 4 of 22 articles focused on measuring empathy response after VR/AR intervention and were grouped in a separate category. 22 , 23 , 25 , 35 …”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…VR-based studies contained a large variety of interventions—all with the aim of improving medical communication. Different intervention types included: 4 of 17 studies using VR to simulate a patient encounter, 15 , 31 , 33 , 36 4 of 17 implementing a VR teaching curriculum, 16 , 23 , 33 , 35 2 of 17 providing a VR video game experience, 18 , 22 4 of 17 using VR to educate patients, 20 , 29 , 30 , 34 2 of 17 using the headsets to view video recordings, 17 , 25 and 3 of 17 using headsets to view 3D models. Interventions involving 3D model viewing were mostly associated with patient education, 28 - 30 or facilitation of faster and easier preoperative planning.…”
Communication between clinicians and patients and communication within clinical teams is widely recognized as a tool through which improved patient outcomes can be achieved. As emerging technologies, there is a notable lack of commentary on the role of immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in enhancing medical communication. This scoping review aims to map the current landscape of literature on this topic and highlights gaps in the evidence to inform future endeavors. A comprehensive search strategy was conducted across 3 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase), yielding 1000 articles, of which 623 were individually screened for relevance. Ultimately, 22 articles were selected for inclusion and review. Similarities across the cohort of studies included small sample sizes, observational study design, use of questionnaires, and more VR studies than AR. The majority of studies found these technologies to improve medical communication, although user tolerability limitations were identified. More studies are required, presenting more robust findings, in order to draw more definitive conclusions and stronger recommendations for use of immersive VR/AR in clinical environments.
“…Hypothesis 1a : A previous study showed that VR in a simulated learning environment can improve empathic clinical communication score by 0.3-1.15 points with a standard deviation (σ) of 0.3-1.1 [ 26 ]. To detect a statistically significant change in our study, a sample size of 68 participants is needed to obtain a medium-to-large effect size ( d =0.5-0.8) with a power level of .80 and an alpha of .05 [ 26 , 27 ]. We will compare the number of identified contributing factors (after reading the event vs after VR training) by using a within-subject 2-tailed, 2-sample t test with the significance level set to .05.…”
Background
Preventable surgical errors of varying degrees of physical, emotional, and financial harm account for a significant number of adverse events. These errors are frequently tied to systemic problems within a health care system, including the absence of necessary policies/procedures, obstructive cultural hierarchy, and communication breakdown between staff. We developed an innovative, theory-based virtual reality (VR) training to promote understanding and sensemaking toward the holistic view of the culture of patient safety and high reliability.
Objective
We aim to assess the effect of VR training on health care workers’ (HCWs’) understanding of contributing factors to patient safety events, sensemaking of patient safety culture, and high reliability organization principles in the laboratory environment. Further, we aim to assess the effect of VR training on patient safety culture, TeamSTEPPS behavior scores, and reporting of patient safety events in the surgery department of an academic medical center in the clinical environment.
Methods
This mixed methods study uses a pre-VR versus post-VR training study design involving attending faculty, residents, nurses, technicians of the department of surgery, and frontline HCWs in the operation rooms at an academic medical center. HCWs’ understanding of contributing factors to patient safety events will be assessed using a scale based on the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System. We will use the data frame theory framework, supported by a semistructured interview guide to capture the sensemaking process of patient safety culture and principles of high reliability organizations. Changes in the culture of patient safety will be quantified using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality surveys on patient safety culture. TeamSTEPPS behavior scores based on observation will be measured using the Teamwork Evaluation of Non-Technical Skills tool. Patient safety events reported in the voluntary institutional reporting system will be compared before the training versus those after the training. We will compare the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality patient safety culture scores and patient safety events reporting before the training versus those after the training by using descriptive statistics and a within-subject 2-tailed, 2-sample t test with the significance level set at .05.
Results
Ethics approval was obtained in May 2021 from the institutional review board of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (22-1150). The enrollment of participants for this study will start in fall 2022 and is expected to be completed by early spring 2023. The data analysis is expected to be completed by July 2023.
Conclusions
Our findings will help assess the effectiveness of VR training in improving HCWs’ understanding of contributing factors of patient safety events, sensemaking of patient safety culture, and principles and behaviors of high reliability organizations. These findings will contribute to developing VR training to improve patient safety culture in other specialties.
“…Each conversation is automatically mapped against pre-determined template responses and a transcript can be reviewed at the end of the consultation alongside expert feedback on the student’s chosen response. Preliminary data from these modules suggests VR-based training was effective in eliciting empathic communication skills - possibly even more so than those trained in real-life role play practice [39] . These benefits likely derive from VRs ability to provide unlimited practice with minimal pressure, both of which can be limiting factors in conventionally interview training with simulated patients.…”
Section: Choosing the Right Learning Tool For The Right Purposementioning
confidence: 99%
“… Fig. 7 Effective Digital Delivery Methods and the Domains of Learning [13] , [19] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] . …”
Section: Choosing the Right Learning Tool For The Right Purposementioning
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
