Virtual Reality Training for Airway Injury Management Education
(AW&VR Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?Airway injury in patients is a high risk and complex medical crisis. Unfortunately, training for airway management in injured patients is challenging. The most effective way of practicing airway management is using mannequins. However, mannequin training is expensive and only occasionally available to medical trainees. The purpose of this study is to determine if Virtual Reality (VR) can be used to educate medical students on airway injury management. VR training will involve managing the care of a patient with an airway injury in an immersive, interactive VR hospital trauma bay. The investigators will compare the knowledge gained from VR training vs. mannequin training. The investigators will also investigate whether VR training teaches students faster than mannequin training. In addition, the investigators will identify factors which might affect learning from VR. Medical students who choose to participate will be randomized (i.e. participant will have a 50% chance to be placed in either group) to be trained with VR or a mannequin. Participants then will be trained on airway injury management using their assigned training approach. One week later, all participants will be assessed on their airway injury management skills using a mannequin. Before and after their sessions, participants will also be asked to complete a questionnaire on their clinical decision-making. Participants who received VR training will also complete a questionnaire about their experience with the VR training. This study will help develop a new approach to airway management training which is cheaper and more easily available to medical trainees than mannequin training. This educational tool could lead to better treatment of airway trauma in future patients.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for University of Toronto medical students in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year who are at least 18 years old and can attend two sessions one week apart. It's not suitable for those without consent capacity, with visual/hearing impairments that limit VR/video use, or a history of significant motion sickness.

Inclusion Criteria

Medical student at U of T in 1st, 2nd or 3rd year

I can attend two sessions a week apart.

I am 18 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

You have a history of getting very sick from motion, whether it's from physical movement, visual stimulation, or virtual reality. You may also experience cybersickness and have reported it in the past.

I have visual or hearing impairments that make it hard for me to watch or listen to videos.

I am able to understand and agree to participate in the study.

Participant Groups

The study tests if VR-based simulation training is as effective as traditional mannequin-based simulation in teaching airway trauma management to medical students. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the VR group or the mannequin group and assessed on their skills after one week.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: VR-based Simulation (Intervention)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention

Students will receive training on traumatic airway management using VR-based simulation.

Group II: Mannequin-based Simulation (Control)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention

Students will receive training on traumatic airway management using mannequin-based simulation.