Carlos M Serrano1, Paul R Wesselink2, Johanna M Vervoorn3. 1. Evidence Based Clinic & Department of Educational Research and Development, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands. 2. Department of Cariology Endodontology & Pedodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands. 3. Institute of Education, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Abstract
CONTEXT: In preclinical dental education, plastic and extracted teeth have been broadly used for skills training without specific focus on the patient behind the procedure. A patient-centered approach remains challenging in traditional simulation, which does not resemble realistic clinical situations. OBJECTIVE: This article describes the development and first experiences with a patient-centered virtual reality training module (PC-VR) that allows dental care providers to prepare, beforehand and in virtual reality (VR), specific procedures required by their patients. Experiences with this patient-centered practice are described to reflect on its value for clinical training in dentistry. DESIGN: Using an intraoral scanner, digital impressions of 10 patients were made; these served as stereolithography (STL) digital files, which were converted into volumetric haptic models for display in a VR dental simulator. In this study, students' experiences were investigated through a short open-answer survey in 2018. Atlas.ti was used for qualitative analysis of the answers through the inductive methodology of the grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Drillable virtual models of real patients were made available for training using VR. Inductive analysis of the experiences identified 5 dimensions describing the main features of PC-VR: added value, competence development, self-efficacy, outcomes, and room for development. CONCLUSION: This article provides a general overview of the possibilities and challenges of the implementation PC-VR in dental education. Although concrete effects on trainees' self-confidence and performance are yet to be determined, all participants appreciated the opportunity to explore clinical situations before experiencing them in the context of a real patient.
CONTEXT: In preclinical dental education, plastic and extracted teeth have been broadly used for skills training without specific focus on the patient behind the procedure. A patient-centered approach remains challenging in traditional simulation, which does not resemble realistic clinical situations. OBJECTIVE: This article describes the development and first experiences with a patient-centered virtual reality training module (PC-VR) that allows dental care providers to prepare, beforehand and in virtual reality (VR), specific procedures required by their patients. Experiences with this patient-centered practice are described to reflect on its value for clinical training in dentistry. DESIGN: Using an intraoral scanner, digital impressions of 10 patients were made; these served as stereolithography (STL) digital files, which were converted into volumetric haptic models for display in a VR dental simulator. In this study, students' experiences were investigated through a short open-answer survey in 2018. Atlas.ti was used for qualitative analysis of the answers through the inductive methodology of the grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Drillable virtual models of real patients were made available for training using VR. Inductive analysis of the experiences identified 5 dimensions describing the main features of PC-VR: added value, competence development, self-efficacy, outcomes, and room for development. CONCLUSION: This article provides a general overview of the possibilities and challenges of the implementation PC-VR in dental education. Although concrete effects on trainees' self-confidence and performance are yet to be determined, all participants appreciated the opportunity to explore clinical situations before experiencing them in the context of a real patient.