Eric G Bing1,2, Megan L Brown2, Anthony Cuevas3, Richard Sullivan4, Groesbeck P Parham5,6. 1. Department of Applied Physiology and Wellness, Center for Global Health Impact, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. 2. Department of Anthropology, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. 3. Simulation Laboratory, Department of Teaching and Learning, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. 4. Institute of Cancer Policy, King's College London, Kings Health Partners Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer Sciences, London, United Kingdom. 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel, Chapel Hill, NC. 6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Zambia, UTH-Women and Newborn Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Limited access to adequate cancer surgery training is one of the driving forces behind global inequities in surgical cancer care. Affordable virtual reality (VR) surgical training could enhance surgical skills in low- and middle-income settings, but most VR and augmented reality systems are too expensive and do not teach open surgical techniques commonly practiced in these contexts. New low-cost VR can offer skill development simulations relevant to these settings, but little is known about how knowledge is gained and applied by surgeons training and working in specific resource-constrained settings. This study addresses this gap, exploring gynecologic oncology trainee learning and user experience using a low-cost VR simulator to learn to perform an open radical abdominal hysterectomy in Lusaka, Zambia. METHODS: Eleven surgical trainees rotating through the gynecologic oncology service were sequentially recruited from the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka to participate in a study evaluating a VR radical abdominal hysterectomy training designed to replicate the experience in a Zambian hospital. Six participated in semi-structured interviews following the training. Interviews were analyzed using open and axial coding, informed by grounded theory. RESULTS: Simulator participation increased participants' perception of their surgical knowledge, confidence, and skills. Participants believed their skills transferred to other related surgical procedures. Having clear goals and motivation to improve were described as factors that influenced success. CONCLUSION: For cancer surgery trainees in lower-resourced settings learning medical and surgical skills, even for those with limited VR experience, low-cost VR simulators may enhance anatomical knowledge and confidence. The VR simulator reinforced anatomical and clinical knowledge acquired through other modalities. VR-enhanced learning may be particularly valuable when mentored learning opportunities are limited.
PURPOSE: Limited access to adequate cancer surgery training is one of the driving forces behind global inequities in surgical cancer care. Affordable virtual reality (VR) surgical training could enhance surgical skills in low- and middle-income settings, but most VR and augmented reality systems are too expensive and do not teach open surgical techniques commonly practiced in these contexts. New low-cost VR can offer skill development simulations relevant to these settings, but little is known about how knowledge is gained and applied by surgeons training and working in specific resource-constrained settings. This study addresses this gap, exploring gynecologic oncology trainee learning and user experience using a low-cost VR simulator to learn to perform an open radical abdominal hysterectomy in Lusaka, Zambia. METHODS: Eleven surgical trainees rotating through the gynecologic oncology service were sequentially recruited from the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka to participate in a study evaluating a VR radical abdominal hysterectomy training designed to replicate the experience in a Zambian hospital. Six participated in semi-structured interviews following the training. Interviews were analyzed using open and axial coding, informed by grounded theory. RESULTS: Simulator participation increased participants' perception of their surgical knowledge, confidence, and skills. Participants believed their skills transferred to other related surgical procedures. Having clear goals and motivation to improve were described as factors that influenced success. CONCLUSION: For cancer surgery trainees in lower-resourced settings learning medical and surgical skills, even for those with limited VR experience, low-cost VR simulators may enhance anatomical knowledge and confidence. The VR simulator reinforced anatomical and clinical knowledge acquired through other modalities. VR-enhanced learning may be particularly valuable when mentored learning opportunities are limited.
Authors: Anthony G Gallagher; E Matt Ritter; Howard Champion; Gerald Higgins; Marvin P Fried; Gerald Moses; C Daniel Smith; Richard M Satava Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: Richard Sullivan; Olusegun Isaac Alatise; Benjamin O Anderson; Riccardo Audisio; Philippe Autier; Ajay Aggarwal; Charles Balch; Murray F Brennan; Anna Dare; Anil D'Cruz; Alexander M M Eggermont; Kenneth Fleming; Serigne Magueye Gueye; Lars Hagander; Cristian A Herrera; Hampus Holmer; André M Ilbawi; Anton Jarnheimer; Jia-Fu Ji; T Peter Kingham; Jonathan Liberman; Andrew J M Leather; John G Meara; Swagoto Mukhopadhyay; Shilpa S Murthy; Sherif Omar; Groesbeck P Parham; C S Pramesh; Robert Riviello; Danielle Rodin; Luiz Santini; Shailesh V Shrikhande; Mark Shrime; Robert Thomas; Audrey T Tsunoda; Cornelis van de Velde; Umberto Veronesi; Dehannathparambil Kottarathil Vijaykumar; David Watters; Shan Wang; Yi-Long Wu; Moez Zeiton; Arnie Purushotham Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2015-09 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: Brian R Waterman; Kevin D Martin; Kenneth L Cameron; Brett D Owens; Philip J Belmont Journal: Orthopedics Date: 2016-05-02 Impact factor: 1.390
Authors: Groesbeck Parham; Eric G Bing; Anthony Cuevas; Boris Fisher; Jonathan Skinner; Mulindi Mwanahamuntu; Richard Sullivan Journal: Ecancermedicalscience Date: 2019-03-18
Authors: Eric G Bing; Groesbeck P Parham; Anthony Cuevas; Boris Fisher; Jonathan Skinner; Mulindi Mwanahamuntu; Richard Sullivan Journal: J Glob Oncol Date: 2019-05
Authors: Adam Fundytus; Richard Sullivan; Verna Vanderpuye; Bostjan Seruga; Gilberto Lopes; Nazik Hammad; Manju Sengar; Wilma M Hopman; Michael D Brundage; Christopher M Booth Journal: J Glob Oncol Date: 2017-12-15