Virtual Reality Environment for Surgical Skills Practice for Medical Students

Abstract

This research is centered on the development of a virtual reality (VR) environment designed for practicing continuous simple suturing techniques, offering a solution to the challenges faced by medical students, including the constraints imposed by the pandemic, limited physical space, and shortages of necessary materials. The study encompasses five distinct phases: Research, Design, Development, Testing and Evaluation, and Analysis and Conclusions, each methodically pursued to attain the predetermined research objectives. The research project was executed through an experimental study, involving the administration of tests and the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. Eleven fourth-semester medical students from the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes actively participated in the study, conducting tests and evaluating the performance and utility of the VR environment as an educational tool. The outcomes were notably positive, with participants affirming the utility and engagement value of the VR environment for knowledge acquisition. They underscored its remarkable capacity to provide a lifelike suturing practice experience, even within a virtual environment. This project introduces the initial iteration of the VR environment, showcasing its effectiveness as an educational instrument for suturing techniques. The findings substantiate its practicality, demonstrating that VR environments present an effective alternative to overcome the limitations inherent in surgical practice.