Validation of a new virtual reality software designed for regional anaesthesia by testing performance between novice and experienced participants

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Medical education and training of procedural skills; Ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia needling skills; Anaesthesiology - Anaesthetics; Public Health - Health service research

• Registration Number: ACTRN12623000136606
• Lead Sponsor: South West Sydney Local Health District

Brief Summary

A total of 21 novice and 15 experienced participants were analyzed. Both groups were similar in their baseline characteristics prior to virtual reality training. After training, experienced participants performed significantly better than novices throughout all 40 attempts. Both groups did improve their performance over time. Comparing performance at the individual nerve targets, experienced participants scored significantly better than novices for all 4 nerves. There was no difference in the report level of presence experienced during the training by both groups, and the perceived cognitive workload was also not different between groups. When compared to previous existing high fidelity virtual reality software, the virtual reality trainer was comparable in the realism, possibility to act, and quality of interface subscales but study participants reported that the possibility to examine and self-performance subscales were not as high fidelity. When compared to real life medical procedures, participants reported that the virtual reality trainer created similar levels of cognitive work load. Individual learning curves demonstrated that performance over time is participant-specific and may provide avenues for targeted teaching specific to the needs of that individual.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Completion: 2022-06-30
• Study Start: 2023-02-09
• Last Update Posted: 13 February 2023

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 36

Inclusion Criteria

All adult (>18yo) medical students or anaesthesia staff attached to Liverpool Hospital, Sydney

Exclusion Criteria

1) Novices having prior exposure to lectures, tutorials, workshops or clinical hands-on experience with ultrasound or nerve blocks are excluded

2) Experienced group to have previously performed at least 50 ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia blocks prior to study

3) Sufficient English proficiency for informed consent, and be able to understand and complete study questionnaires

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Performance scores between novices and experienced participants to provide evidence of construct validity. Performance scores are calculated by the virtual reality software based on time taken, number of withdrawals, and angulation of the needle relative to the transducer[Immediately after completion of virtual reality training (40 attempts)];Cognitive-motor load, based on NASA-TLX scores between groups and between all participants versus published equivalent medical procedures[Immediately after completion of virtual reality training (40 attempts)];Virtual reality presence, based on Presence Questionnaire scores between groups and between all participants versus published established scores for high-fidelity virtual reality environments[Immediately after completion of virtual reality training (40 attempts)]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Generation of individualised learning curves, produced by comparing performance scores over each attempt for each participant [Immediately after completion of virtual reality training (40 attempts)]