Comparing virtual reality and traditional training in radiation safety practices over three years among cardiologists and scrub nurses

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) training vs traditional methods in enhancing radiation safety practices among cardiologists and scrub nurses.Developed by Virtual Medical Coaching, VR training simulates radiation safety scenarios in cardiac catheterization laboratories.Methods: A 3-year crossover study was conducted with 150 health care professionals (in this study, health care professionals are defined as cardiologists and scrub nurses who work in catheterization laboratories) at five urban hospitals.These professionals are key personnel in fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures, where radiation safety is a critical concern.Participants, stratified by profession, were randomly assigned to initially receive either VR (virtual medical coaching) or traditional training, followed by a year-long washout period before switching training modalities.Primary outcomes measured changes in radiation exposure via dosimeters, whereas secondary outcomes assessed knowledge retention.Results: VR training significantly reduced radiation exposure, resulting in a 30% greater decrease in radiation dose than traditional methods.Cardiologists in Group A (VR training) experienced a mean reduction of 3.37 (P < .001),whereas scrub nurses experienced a mean reduction of 2.89 (P < .001).In contrast, participants in Group B (traditional training) exhibited a smaller reduction of 1.75 for cardiologists (P < .001)and 1.49 for scrub nurses (P < .001).The participants transitioning from traditional to VR training demonstrated enhanced retention and application of safety protocols, as reflected by improved knowledge and observed structured clinical examinations scores.The integration of VR into training notably improved procedural knowledge and skills without the risk of radiation exposure, making VR an effective tool for radiation safety education.Conclusions: This study highlights the superiority of VR training in reducing radiation exposure and enhancing practical skills among medical professionals.Virtual medical coaching's specialized VR modules effectively simulate real-world scenarios, making them valuable components in radiation safety training.The findings advocate the integration of VR into medical education curricula to improve safety standards and training efficacy.(