VR Matches Traditional Methods in Anesthesia Training

TOPLINE:

A study found no significant difference in training outcomes between virtual reality (VR)–assisted and traditional one-on-one methods for teaching ultrasound-guided needling skills in regional anesthesia.

METHODOLOGY:

• This single-center, double-blinded, randomized control trial involved 45 medical students who had no prior exposure to ultrasonography, ultrasound-guided procedures, or regional anesthesia.
• Participants were divided into two groups: VR-assisted training, in which the participants practiced ultrasound scanning and needling using a simulator, and conventional, one-on-one training from a faculty member using artificial models.
• The primary outcome was the global rating score for performance during technical needling. The secondary outcomes included a measure of composite error and scores on VR realism and immersion.

TAKEAWAY:

• The researchers found no significant difference in the needling performance between the groups that underwent either VR or conventional training (P = .51).
• The errors made during the needling procedure did not significantly differ between the groups (P = .2).
• Participants in the VR group reported similar levels of immersion and realism to real-life experiences (P > .79).
• Both groups experienced a decrease in task workload after the training period, with no significant difference between the arms (P = .25).

IN PRACTICE:

“Virtual reality simulators may provide a reduction in faculty burden by relieving teachers from supervising novices during the essential but repetitive learning phase of regional anesthesia,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Alwin Chuan, MD, of the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, Australia. It was published online on June 17, 2024, in the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia.

LIMITATIONS:

The small sample size of the study and the short duration of the training period may have limited the generalizability of the findings. The lack of a cost-benefit analysis of the use of VR could affect the interpretation of its practicality in educational settings.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was partially funded by a grant from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. The VR software was designed by two study authors and is not a commercial product. No other disclosures were made.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.