Using virtual reality based learning to provide education on the management of diabetes emergencies for doctors in training

Abstract

It is essential that all doctors in training feel confident in their ability to manage diabetes emergencies occurring in hospital settings. This is particularly pertinent when specialist expertise is not always immediately available, as well as at a time when diabetes prevalence in hospitals is rising.The project team created interactive, immersive scenarios and ran ‘DEVICE’ (Diabetes Emergencies: Virtual Interactive Clinical Education), a pilot study to test the feasibility of using virtual reality (VR) as a safe‐space learning medium for training medical staff on diabetes emergency management. Each study participant worked through two emergency scenarios, under the supervision of a consultant trainer. Analysis of the participants’ performance metrics showed improved clinical approaches and increased confidence in handling diabetes emergencies by these non‐specialist participants.Here we describe this pilot study development in more detail, as well as provide an update following the national roll‐out of these training resources across seven national postgraduate medical deaneries. The DEVICE initiative was found to be scalable and sustainable, with VR‐based learning deemed to be a popular, safe, and effective teaching tool for diabetes. We are now developing VR‐based training cases for use by other health care professionals within primary and secondary care. Copyright © 2023 John Wiley & Sons.