Development and validation of a virtual reality simulator: human factors input to interventional radiology training.

Objective: This study developed and validated a virtual reality (VR) simulator for use by interventional radiologists.

Background: Research in the area of skill acquisition reports practice as essential to become a task expert. Studies on simulation show skills learned in VR can be successfully transferred to a real-world task.

Simulation: moving from technology challenge to human factors success.

Recognition of the many limitations of traditional apprenticeship training is driving new approaches to learning medical procedural skills. Among simulation technologies and methods available today, computer-based systems are topical and bring the benefits of automated, repeatable, and reliable performance assessments. Human factors research is central to simulator model development that is relevant to real-world imaging-guided interventional tasks and to the credentialing programs in which it would be used.

Metrics for an interventional radiology curriculum: a case for standardisation?

Interventional radiology training and assessment would benefit greatly from the introduction of simulation. Assessment methods should facilitate the highest standards of training and therefore must be chosen on the basis of evidence of impact on learning. A study of assessment in a training model shows the need for specialty specific metrics which were derived from a task analysis of interventional procedures.