Research
How is VR impacting healthcare education and training? Gain insights from the literature.
- OMS-focused research
- OMS Return on Investment (ROI)
- VR simulation research
OMS-focused research
Learners using OMS demonstrated significant increases in clinical confidence and performance improvement to Kirkpatrick level 3. (Mallik, 2021)
100% of learners rated the learning experience highly, selecting either “strongly agree” or “somewhat agree” to all components of the SET-M. (Brown, 2023)
95.5% of participants would recommend VR simulation to their peers. (Seager, 2021)
Qualitative responses included: “Honestly, this was the single most useful learning experience I’ve had so far in my training” (Atkinson, 2020)
Exploring the Role of Virtual Reality to Support Clinical Diabetes Training—A Pilot Study
At 3 month follow up, "89% of trainees reported using the knowledge learned from their VR training in their daily practice."
Virtual Reality During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Clinicians gained skills in time management, prioritization, delgation, teamwork, and structured patient assessment.
Curricular Integration of Virtual Reality in Nursing Education
Authors conclude that embedding OMS within a defined curriculum and facilitated debriefing is valuable for student learning and may ultimately affect patient care.
The DEVICE Study - Diabetes Emergencies: Virtual Interactive Clinical Education
After using OMS, clinician confidence in managing diabetic emergencies increased significantly, with 100% of trainees expecting to use the knowledge gained within 3 months at work.
OMS Return on Investment (ROI)
“As well as enriching the student experience, the use of OMS provided access for almost double the number of learners in comparison to face to face simulation, with the university realizing a 74% reduction in staffing time and estate costs (after 2000 hours of simulated learning on OMS).” (NHS Long Term People Plan, 2023)
OMS costs were between $2.22 (£1.86) and $14.38 (£12.07) per use, while physical simulation costs vary from $28.38 (£23.83) to $394.95 (£331.48) per use. (YHEC Economic Impact Case Study, 2022)
NHS Long Term People Plan Case Study
At Sheffield Hallam University, faculty embedded OMS into their curriculum using a scaffolded approach to prepare students for practice from foundational to complex scenarios requiring higher-level cognitive skills like clinical decision making.
YHEC Economic Impact Case Study
Taking a conservative average of $12.10 (£10.15) per use for OMS costs, the return on investment (ROI) of OMS vs physical simulation can be calculated at between 1.2 and 300 (120% to 3,000%).
VR simulation research
VR simulation education requires 22% less time than physical simulation education and is 40% less expensive. (Bumbach, 2022)
VR is significantly less expensive than physical simulation while delivering the same learning and performance outcomes. (Haerling, 2018)
Assessing the Financial Sustainability of High-Fidelity and Virtual Reality Simulation for Nursing Education
Authors used a budget impact analysis to compare physical and VR simulation, with evidence demonstrating support for VR as a "financially advantageous" and "resource conscious" educational tool.
Cost-Utility Analysis of Virtual and Mannequin-Based Simulation
Assessing both learning outcomes as well as a cost-utility analysis, this paper compared the cost-utility ratio of virtual simulation, at $1.08, with mannequin-based physical simulation, costing $3.62.
Virtual Reality for Health Professions Education: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Evidence suggests VR improves healthcare knowledge and skills significantly more than in-person education or e-learning.
Clinical Virtual Simulation in Nursing Education: Randomized Controlled Trial
VR significantly improved nurses’ knowledge over case-based learning, with higher levels of learning satisfaction.