sing virtual reality to teach real-time ultrasound-guided needling skills: A randomised controlled trial

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Medical Simulation; Medical Education; Anaesthesiology - Anaesthetics; Public Health - Health service research

• Registration Number: ACTRN12621001144808
• Lead Sponsor: iverpool Hospital

Brief Summary

We previously designed a virtual reality-based simulator to help train novices in ultrasound-guided needling skills necessary for safe ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia. In this single centre, randomised controlled study, we compared the performance and error rates of novices trained by a human faculty augmented by the use of this virtual reality simulator (virtual reality-assisted training), versus novices trained wholly by humans (conventional training). A standardised teaching protocol using gold-standard deliberate practice, rigorous blinding, iterative training of assessors, and validated global rating scale and composite error score checklists were used to assess skills learning. We found non-superiority of the virtual reality-assisted training versus conventional training based on competency and error outcomes.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2021-08-25
• Study Completion: 2023-05-14
• Last Update Posted: 4 March 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 45

Inclusion Criteria

Medical students who are novices to ultrasound-guided procedures or regional anaesthesia (no prior exposure to lectures, tutorials, workshops or clinical hands-on experience with ultrasound or nerve blocks).

Exclusion Criteria

No exclusion criteria apart from prior exposure to ultrasound and/or regional anaesthesia procedures.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Difference in student performance of ultrasound guided techniques will be determined using the global rating scale (7-item 5-point Likert scale) for UGRA final scores between the virtual reality group and standard group, marked by two independent assessors through an iterative process. <br><br>This global rating scale has been used in previous regional anaesthesia studies and are validated with moderate to high inter-observer reliability.[ Immediately after the final test.]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Difference in composite error scores using a checklist for needling tasks in ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia between the virtual reality group and standard group, when measured by the same two independent assessors. <br><br>This composite error score has been used in previous regional anaesthesia studies and are validated with moderate to high inter-observer reliability.[ Immediately after the final test.];Self-assessment of cognitive task load using the NASA-TLX questionnaire within the groups.<br>[ Immediately after the final test.<br>];Individualised learning curves generated from data collected automatically by the VR software during VR training[ immediately after the final test]