Anuradha Setlur
Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children
Wilmington, Delaware
Disclosure information not submitted.
Jennifer Lutz, DO
Fellow
Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children
Wilmington, Delaware
Disclosure information not submitted.
Odiraa Nwankwor, MD, MPH
Pediatric Intensivist
Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Nicholas Slamon, MD
Pediatric Intensivist
Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children, United States
Disclosure information not submitted.
Title: A Novel Approach to Mock Code Simulation: Virtual Reality
Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became challenging for physician trainees to broaden their medical knowledge and skills due to closure of simulation centers and suspension of mock code education. Virtual reality (VR) for medical education is a novel concept that offers cooperative, interactive, and socially-distanced learning. This study utilizes VR customizability to build immersive, realistic scenarios that are encountered frequently in pediatric critical care and emergency medicine.
Methods: This is a prospective observational study. Participants include medical students, residents, and fellows in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (n=30). Codes are run in the VR platform Acadicus multiple times weekly. Each scenario has at least two investigators in the VR platform using Oculus Rift S© headsets to execute the code activities, while participants join via a Zoom® screen share. Participants are expected to be code leader twice during the study period. After each scenario completion, debriefs occur in the VR environment using visual teaching tools like graphics and algorithms. Code leader performance is scored using a modified version of a validated scoring tool, the Tool for Resuscitation Assessment Using Computerized Simulation (TRACS). All participants are asked to complete an anonymous survey about their experience per session.
Results: To date, 12 scenarios with 12 different code leaders and almost 40 team members have been completed. On average, there is one code leader and two to five other code team members. The average overall first-time performance score is 68% (range 46-91%) using TRACS. Most participants are current residents in pediatrics or emergency medicine. All survey participants (16) reported skills practiced and learned in the VR setting are applicable to real-life codes. Participants identified similar learning outcomes in the virtual reality simulation and mannequin based simulation and were interested in pursuing more virtual mock codes 81% of the time. Virtual mock code participation was preferred to traditional simulations in 37.5% of participants.
Conclusion: Virtual reality mock code simulation is a new modality that offers a valuable alternative to mannequin simulation. Further assessment is needed to explore existing deficiencies in VR simulation and areas for improvement.