Role of Virtual Reality Technologies in Clinical Training and Patient Safety

Running head: DISSERTATION
To examine the role of reality technologies in clinical training and its impacts on patient’s
quality and safety of care
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Author Note

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DISSERTATION
Literature Review
Role of Virtual Reality Training (VRT) in clinical training
The role of VRT has significant clinical application. According to Lopreiato and
Sawyer (2015), VRT applies simulation-based medical education (SBME) that facilitates
learning. Lopreiato and Sawyer (2015) mainly conducted a systematic review over the
paediatric medical professionals in order to access the role and the importance of VRT. The
analysis of the results highlighted that VR based SBME is a powerful tool in order to increase
the overall patient safety. Clerihew, Rowney and Ker (2016) also conducted a systematic
review in order to analyse the role of VRT in clinical practice. They also used paediatric
settings and the analysis of the results highlighted that VRT under SBME helps in providing
trainee with a definite framework to analyse critical medical situations. It also helps in the
identification of the active and latent failures and thereby helping to redesign the system. It
also helps to gain confidence among the trainees, which helped to increase the overall
outcome of the patients. Simulation also helps to deconstruct any critical events into learnable
chinks and thus increasing the generic competencies like leadership, communication and
prioritization. Rudarakanchana, Van Herzeele, Desender and Cheshire (2015) conducted a
review in order to analyse the present status of the endovascular VR simulation in relation to
both technical and non-technical skills while describing latest developments in the domain of
medical science. The authors systematically reviewed 33 articles and highlighted that
endovascular VR simulation not only helps in the increase in the technical knowledge of the
trainee but also helps in accentuating the human factor skills. The special patient-specific
rehearsal (PsR) promotes procedure planning and increase in technical skills through
psychomotor rehearsal. This has potential implication in patient safety.

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DISSERTATION
Acceptance of Virtual Reality Technology for clinical training
Huang, Liaw and Lai (2016) conducted non-randomised control trial over the medical
students in the human physiology in order to analyse the acceptance of the learner in the
domain of VRT. Analysis of the results highlighted that VRT helps in the generation of 3D
simulation which promotes effective learning experience among the healthcare professionals.
The 3D graphics helps to increase the overall performance of the medical students (study of
the body parts: Physiology) in the areas like anatomy of the body organs, spatial recognition,
spatial cognition. The results obtained by Liaw and Lai (2016), is similar to that of results
highlighted by Li et al. (2017). Li et al. (2017) reported the importance of 3D graphics in
increasing the acceptance of VRT. also However, in relation to the study design of Liaw and
Lai (2016), it can be said that non-randomised control trail leads results arising out of
selection bias (Lewis, 2015). Chan, Martel, Poulin, Mamazza and Boushey (2010) conducted
a national survey with 34 questions in order to seek the opinions of the academic surgeons
over minimally invasive surgery (MIS) education. The analysis of the survey results through
Likert scales highlighted that in order to study about MIS, 54% of the respondents from 16
different Canadian preferred virtual reality stimulator in comparison to the early operating
room exposure, animal model training, didactic lectures and computer software based
training. The respondents mainly highlighted that virtual reality training mainly help in quick
understanding through 3D graphics and thus showing overall increase in acceptance of VRT
among the doctors.
Advantages and limitations of Virtual Reality technology on safety and quality
outcomes for patients
Virtual Reality Technology (VRT) is emerging and exciting field with enormous
application (Fertleman et al., 2018). Fertleman et al. (2018) conducted a penal discussion
based study in order to access the importance of virtual reality technology in providing