The Use of Virtual Reality Echocardiography in Medical Education
- PMID: 33856495
- DOI: 10.1007/s00246-021-02596-z
The Use of Virtual Reality Echocardiography in Medical Education
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) is a relatively new technology that allows an individual to experience a virtual world. This new immersive video type may be of particular usefulness in procedure-based healthcare settings. We hypothesized that VR echocardiography was non-inferior to live demonstration. Our aim was to assess the usefulness of a VR echocardiographic approach in teaching echocardiography to pediatric trainees compared to live demonstration. This was a single center, cross-sectional observational design. We used a Garmin VIRB® 360 and a head-mount display to record live echocardiography exams in a pediatric population. An Oculus Go™ was used to view the 360° immersive/VR videos. Trainees responded to a written questionnaire afterwards. Fifteen trainees participated in the study, each of whom had previously seen echocardiography through live demonstration teaching. Eleven respondents had previous hands-on echocardiography experience. All 15 participants confirmed that VR echocardiography is a useful teaching tool with 87% (n = 13) rating it as good or very good on a 5-point Likert scale. When asked to compare VR to live demonstration, 67% (n = 10) rated VR echocardiography as the same or better than live demonstration. One of the participants reported a side effect, namely mild and self-resolving dizziness. VR echocardiography is a safe, inexpensive and practical way for trainees to learn echocardiography. The addition of VR echocardiography to the arsenal of teaching tools may enrich the learning experience for trainees.
Keywords: Echocardiography; Medical education; Training; Virtual reality.
References
-
- Eijlers R, Utens EMWJ, Staals LM, De Nijs PFA, Berghmans JM, Wijnen RMH et al (2019) Systematic review and meta-analysis of virtual reality in pediatrics: effects on pain and anxiety. Anesth Analg 129:1344–1353 - DOI
-
- Baldominos A, Saez Y, García C, Pozo D (2015) An approach to physical rehabilitation using state-of-the-art virtual reality and motion tracking technologies-review under responsibility of SciKA-Association for Promotion and Dissemination of Scientific Knowledge. Available from www.sciencedirect.comwww.elsevier.com/locate/procedia1877-0509 . Accessed 13 Apr 2021
-
- Alaker M, Wynn GR, Arulampalam T (2016) Virtual reality training in laparoscopic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Surg 29:85–94 - DOI
-
- Yiannakopoulou E, Nikiteas N, Perrea D, Tsigris C (2015) Virtual reality simulators and training in laparoscopic surgery. Int J Surg 13:60–64 - DOI
-
- Hackett M, Proctor M (2016) Three-dimensional display technologies for anatomical education: a literature review. J Sci Educ Technol 25:641–654 - DOI
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources