EP01.22: Training of shoulder dystocia using virtual reality: a pilot feasibility study

The aim of this study is to evaluate virtual reality (VR) technology as a modality for simulation training in obstetrical emergency medicine. Therefore, we conducted a pilot feasibility study, testing a VR-training-scenario for the management of shoulder dystocia. The participants conducted three study visits. In the first visit the participants were instructed on the technological aspects of the VR scenario. During the following visits they were asked to manage a case of shoulder dystocia in the virtual world according to a standardised algorithm. Each participant could receive a maximum of seven points per try, and repeated the training until the maximum score was reached. The modified Human factors Skills for Healthcare Instrument and the NASA Task Load Index Questionnaires were used for self-evaluation of non-technical skills and demand of the given task. We included 44 participants, including medical students, midwives, residents and consultants. All participants were able to solve the virtual shoulder dystocia after taking all necessary steps within a time limit of five minutes needing a maximum of three trials. We could show a significant decrease in the time to delivery from an average 136 seconds for the first to 88 seconds for the second try. VR trainings increasingly gain importance in the field of emergency training due to the particularly realistic scenarios and the limited required resources. In this study we could show that VR offers a modern and feasible option for simulation trainings in obstetrical emergency medicine using shoulder dystocia as an exemplar situation. Further randomised controlled studies are planned to evaluate the efficacy of this training modality.