Virtual Reality
I know it’s not real, but it feels real
In the medical domain, complex learning occurs that involves complex physiological systems, developing adaptive expertise and acquiring collaborative skills. Learning in the medical domain is often situated in a real-life context. Training in this real-life context is not always possible. To truly achieve simulation training replicating medical environments it requires, not only analogous mental challenges, but also analogous physiological responses. To replicate and train for human factors in clinical decision making to date has been difficult to achieve, but the immersive nature of VR now provides the tools to.
The Allan Lab is developing 3 programs utilising VR with research studies to validate their effectiveness.
Virtual reality simulations can bridge the gap between theory and practice by immersing the learner in a realistic, dynamic, complex setting
Resilience
Resilience and performance management has become a key arm in the training program of both Emergency Medicine and Anaesthetics Physicians and is likely to spread to other specialties in the future. Human factors in medical errors are both common and hard to reduce.
By leveraging the physiological effect of immersive VR simulation this program aims to teach, and practically demonstrate, tried and tested psychological techniques for reducing the fight and flight response encountered in high stress clinical situations. The candidate will experience the same feelings and learn the effectiveness of methods to manage them. VR immersion allows the participant to “know it’s not real but it feels real” experience, thus allowing a therapeutic window to communicate and teach the techniques with immediate feedback as to their effectiveness.
Communication
One of the key areas of medicine and one of the most frequently identified contributors to errors is communication. Simulation work on replicating the pressure of medical emergencies combined with communication and prioritisation testing and training is challenging.
This program takes students and utilising immersive VR places them under pressure with a series of communication and prioritisation task to achieve between the group. Success or failure depends on being able to rapidly prioritise, effectively communicate within the team from a vast amount of data. Techniques taught can then be repeated under a second scenario to measure improvement, and reinforce the learning points.
Medical Simulation
Working with Oxford Medical Simulation rolling out a VR medical simulation program for medical students, foundation trainees and nursing staff. Utilising immersive VR tied with objective feedback and ability to work flexibly to enhance engagement and training fidelity. In addition working to provide a unique reflection training element to tackle the difficulties of this part of medical training.