High value and low-cost virtual reality healthcare professional education: proceedings of a roundtable workshop.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Introduction The following represents proceedings of an online roundtable workshop on high value and low-cost virtual reality healthcare professional education.

Development of a structured virtual reality curriculum for laparoscopic appendicectomy.

Background: Laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) is a common surgical emergency procedure mainly performed by trainees. The aim was to develop a step-wise structured virtual reality (VR) curriculum for LA to allow junior surgeons to hone their skills in a safe and controlled environment.

Methods: A prospective randomized study was designed using a high-fidelity VR simulator.

Development and implementation of a virtual reality laparoscopic colorectal training curriculum.

Background: Contemporary surgical training can be compromised by fewer practical opportunities. Simulation can fill this gap to optimize skills' development and progress monitoring. A structured virtual reality (VR) laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy curriculum is constructed and its validity and outcomes assessed.

Role of virtual reality simulation in endoscopy training.

Recent advancements in virtual reality graphics and models have allowed virtual reality simulators to be incorporated into a variety of endoscopic training programmes. Use of virtual reality simulators in training programmes is thought to improve skill acquisition amongst trainees which is reflected in improved patient comfort and safety. Several studies have already been carried out to ascertain the impact that usage of virtual reality simulators may have upon trainee learning curves and how this may translate to patient comfort.

The use of simulation in the acquisition of laparoscopic suturing skills.

Objective: Laparoscopic suturing is recognised as one of the most difficult laparoscopic skills to master. With the use of simulation increasing in the training of future surgeons, a comprehensive literature review was carried out to evaluate the current evidence for the role of simulators in facilitating the acquisition of this particular skill.

Method: A PubMed search was performed using terms 'laparoscopy', 'suturing', and 'simulation'.

Establishing a curriculum for the acquisition of laparoscopic psychomotor skills in the virtual reality environment.

Background: The unique psychomotor skills required in laparoscopy result in reduced patient safety during the early part of the learning curve. Evidence suggests that these may be safely acquired in the virtual reality (VR) environment. Several VR simulators are available, each preloaded with several psychomotor skills tasks that provide users with computer-generated performance metrics.

The emerging role of screen based simulators in the training and assessment of colonoscopists.

Incorporation of screen based simulators into medical training has recently gained momentum, as advances in technology have coincided with a government led drive to increase the use of medical simulation training to improve patient safety with progressive reductions in working hours available for junior doctors to train. High fidelity screen based simulators hold great appeal for endoscopy training. Potentially, their incorporation into endoscopy training curricula could enhance speed of acquisition of skills and improve patient comfort and safety during the initial phase of learning.

The accident and emergency department virtual consulting room.

The goal was to describe the development of the Virtual Consulting Room (VcR), a unique intranet-based guidance application providing direct access to local specialist knowledge, and to evaluate its usability and whether it has the potential to educate staff while working in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. Duty staff of the A&E Department, The Royal Free Hospital, London, participated in a prospective observational study. Two hundred and twenty consecutive patients were identified from the triage section of their casualty card as having a presenting complaint that featured in the VcR.

Rupture of tubal pregnancy in the Vilnius population.

Objectives: To evaluate the determinants of tubal rupture in women who suffered from ectopic pregnancy in relation to their demographic profile and medical history.

Study Design: This retrospective observational clinical study was conducted in five general hospitals in Vilnius, Lithuania. The population was composed of 879 women with surgically proven ectopic pregnancy.