Virtual Reality For Surgical Training In Burundi

Background Burundi faces a severe shortage of physicians, with only 0.1 per 1,000 people. This scarcity is compounded by difficulties in training healthcare professionals, due to insufficient infrastructure, urban concentration of doctors, limited funding, and brain drain. Innovative approaches to medical education are crucial to addressing these challenges. We describe a relatively novel tool for surgical training in Burundi- the use of virtual reality (VR) in surgical training. This was the first initiative of its kind in the country. Methods A series of half-day VR-based surgical training workshops were conducted for medical learners and educators, including medical students, postgraduate doctors, senior physicians, and faculty. A total of 41 participants attended the workshops. Each session began with a presentation, followed by hands-on engagement with VR headsets displaying pre-recorded cadaveric dissections and surgical procedures. Audio explanations were delivered through the headsets either via pre-recorded commentary or live narration from the workshop facilitator. Post-session feedback was collected using questionnaires. Results Among the 41 attendees, 25 participants (response rate: 61%) completed the feedback questionnaire. This cohort comprised medical students (36%), resident doctors (40%), and senior physicians or consultants (24%). Only 12% had prior experience with VR. Participants reported VR technology as very easy (44%) or somewhat easy (52%) to use. The majority (96%) believed that VR could be a valuable addition to their standard medical training. Key perceived benefits included enhanced understanding of anatomy, procedural knowledge, and surgical skill acquisition. Identified barriers to implementation included infrastructure limitations, cost, internet connectivity, and digital literacy. Conclusion This study shows that the use of VR is feasible in our setting and is acceptable to learners. VR could be integrated into surgical education. To achieve sustainable implementation, future efforts should focus on developing long-term partnerships, evaluating the technology and assessing the impact of VR on surgical skill acquisition.