Creating a Successful Virtual Reality-Based Medical Simulation Environment: Tutorial

Sanchit Gupta; Kyle Wilcocks; Clyde Matava; Julian Wiegelmann; Lilia Kaustov; Fahad Alam

doi:10.2196/41090

Creating a Successful Virtual Reality-Based Medical Simulation Environment: Tutorial

JMIR Med Educ. 2023 Feb 14:9:e41090. doi: 10.2196/41090.

Authors

Sanchit Gupta^{1

2}, Kyle Wilcocks¹, Clyde Matava^{3

4}, Julian Wiegelmann^{1

4}, Lilia Kaustov¹, Fahad Alam^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

PMID: 36787169
PMCID: PMC9975916
DOI: 10.2196/41090

Abstract

Innovation in medical education is not only inevitable but a requirement. Manikin-based simulation is currently the gold standard for supplemental clinical training; however, this modality requires significant equipment and personnel to operate. Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a new method of delivering medical simulation sessions that requires less infrastructure but also allows for greater accessibility and flexibility. VR has slowly been integrated into the medical curriculum in some hospitals; however, more widespread adoption would transform the delivery of medical education for future clinicians. This tutorial introduces educators to the BUILD REALITY (begin, use, identify, leverage, define, recreate, educate, adapt, look, identify, test, amplify) framework, a series of practical tips for designing and implementing a VR-based medical simulation environment in their curriculum. The suggestions are based on the relevant literature and the authors' personal experience in creating and implementing VR environments for medical trainees. Altogether, this paper provides guidance on conducting a needs assessment, setting objectives, designing a VR environment, and incorporating the session into the broader medical curriculum.

Keywords: curriculum; digital health; how-to; innovation; medical education; medical training; simulation; tutorial; virtual reality.

©Sanchit Gupta, Kyle Wilcocks, Clyde Matava, Julian Wiegelmann, Lilia Kaustov, Fahad Alam. Originally published in JMIR Medical Education (https://mededu.jmir.org), 14.02.2023.