RESEARCH & EVIDENCE

“Earlier debates about whether or not simulation is effective have been superseded by discussions of how it can best be embedded, supported and funded” (Kneebone, 2016)

A wealth of evidence shows that simulation training is “superior to traditional clinical education producing powerful educational interventions that yield immediate and lasting results.”⁽¹⁾

It is effective in training undergrads,⁽²⁾ postgrads and faculty,⁽³⁾ works in all domains: life-saving,⁽⁴⁾ clinical skills^(5,6) and communication skills;⁽⁷⁾ and is well-liked by learners and teachers.⁽⁸⁾

Most importantly it has positive impact on patients,⁽⁹⁾ reducing patient harm⁽¹⁰⁾ and improving quality of care independent of condition.^(11,12) Simulation is now “firmly established as a central constituent of healthcare education.”⁽¹³⁾

Compared to screen-based learning, the greater immersion provided by virtual reality significantly enhances learning performance in medical simulation^(14,15)  and only the sense of presence offered by immersive virtual reality leads to true learning from experience.⁽¹⁶⁾

This power has positioned VR as vital teaching tool in multiple fields, including aviation, oil, shipping, and the military.⁽¹⁷⁾ In fact, the aviation industry credits VR-based education as a major contributor to a nearly 50% reduction in human error-related airline crashes since the 1970s.⁽¹⁸⁾

Virtual reality simulation has been widely adopted in surgical training where it has been shown to “decrease injury, increase speed of operations and improve overall outcomes.”⁽¹⁹⁾ The same is true in medicine where “virtual reality simulations can bridge the gap between theory and practice by immersing the learner in a realistic, dynamic, complex setting.”⁽²⁰⁾

It can teach clinicians complex procedures,⁽²¹⁾ is effective in CPR training,⁽²²⁾ can improve communication skills,⁽²³⁾ enhance critical thinking⁽²⁴⁾ and improve clinical decision-making.⁽²⁵⁾

As well as being an effective teaching method, sim “can improve patient safety and reduce healthcare costs through the improvement of the medical provider’s competencies.”⁽²⁶⁾ For example, VR simulation has been shown to reduce cost and improve safety in advanced life support training,⁽²⁷⁾ “increasing safety, visibility, and reproducibility of actions as well as reducing costs.”⁽²⁸⁾

Therefore, “though the development costs can be high, the expected revenue, in terms of better patient care and prevention of error, provides a decisive argument for investing in such development.”⁽²⁹⁾