Simulation-Based VR Bronchoscopy Training: ADDIE-Driven Development and User Experience Study

Background: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy training is constrained by high equipment costs and limited patient availability. This pilot feasibility and usability study describes the development and preliminary evaluation of a Simulation-Based VR Bronchoscopy Training system that incorporates game-design elements (an objective-based task, real-time scoring, and feedback) within an ADDIE-driven development framework. A high-fidelity prototype was built for the Meta Quest 3. Methods: Ten experienced anesthesiologists completed a pre-test, a one-week practice period (participants were instructed to complete at least 3–4 sessions/week, approximately 4–6 h total, with standardized technical support), and a post-test. Procedural time and mucosal collisions, System Usability Scale (SUS), perceived realism, and motion sickness were assessed; pre-/post-test differences were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: System usability was rated “Excellent” (mean SUS = 81.80, SD = 7.02). Mean procedural completion time decreased significantly from 41.00 s (median 38.50, IQR 28.25–46.75) to 27.00 s (median 24.50, IQR 15.25–35.00; Z = −2.80, p = 0.005, r = −0.89), with all 10 participants improving. Mucosal collisions decreased from a mean of 3.80 (median 3.5) to 3.30 (median 3.0), a non-significant change (Z = −1.07, p = 0.285, r = −0.62); only 3 of 10 participants showed any change in collision count. Perceived realism was rated highly (21.90/25.00) and motion sickness was minimal (2.80/30.00). Conclusions: This pilot study indicates that the simulation is feasible, usable, and well accepted by experienced anesthesiologists, with a preliminary improvement in simulated procedural fluency. Given the small, experienced, single-group sample and the absence of a control condition, these findings should be interpreted as evidence of feasibility and usability rather than demonstrated training effectiveness; larger, controlled studies including novice learners are needed.