A Leap Forward: Virtual Reality Enhances Perinatal Mental Health Training
In a world-first, England has introduced a ground-breaking training program using extended reality (XR) technology for perinatal mental health clinical training. With perinatal mental health conditions affecting 10-20% of those giving birth in the UK, proper support and care are crucial for new parents and their babies. The innovative training program allows healthcare learners to interact with an avatar named Stacey, a virtual patient, in a safe environment to develop their skills and communication abilities.
Health Education England and Fracture Reality partnered to develop the patient avatar, enabling realistic and natural conversations with Stacey through a series of instructor-driven simulations. The XR technology offers both augmented reality, where learners practice in their clinical settings, and virtual reality, where students can interact with Stacey in her own home or other clinical environments.
Over 100 participants, including GP and mental health nurse trainees, medical students, and aspiring clinical psychologists, participated in the program's evaluation by the Centre for Immersive Technologies at the University of Leeds. The study demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive and emotional understanding among participants. Additionally, 79% of learners expressed a preference for simulation training over traditional approaches.
Rebecca Burgess-Dawson, National Clinical Lead for Mental Health at Health Education England, said: “Stacey provides students and learners with a wealth of scenarios that they may encounter while they are working in a clinical setting, all in a natural and realistic way.
“The potential impact that she has on perinatal mental health training is enormous and she will have a real benefit for learners in gaining the practice and skills they need for future patients they treat.”
Dr Faisal Mushtaq, Director of the Centre for Immersive Technologies, said: “The enormous potential for XR to accelerate learning has been clear for some time. But thus far, most examples in healthcare have been limited to areas involving ‘technical skills’.
“For example, we, and others, have shown how VR can be used to learn to perform surgical procedures.
“This project is significant because it demonstrates how these technologies can help people deal with difficult emotionally challenging conversations that can arise in mental health consultations. This is a big step forward for using XR to support learning and skill acquisition.”
Mark Knowles-Lee, Chief Executive of Facture Reality, said: “We're excited to see the latest technology realised in such a meaningful way with our digital patients like Stacey.
“It's a great privilege to be at the centre of this multidisciplinary team, coalescing cutting-edge design and development with world-class expertise in healthcare and training.
“We're proud to be breaking new ground, using our JoinXR platform and paving the way for further pedagogical innovation that keeps pace with the rapid technological advancements on the near-horizon.”
This project is significant as it showcases how XR technology can be effectively used to deal with emotionally challenging conversations that often arise in mental health consultations. This breakthrough training program opens doors for further pedagogical innovation in the healthcare sector, keeping pace with rapid technological advancements. Other universities are now being invited to trial the technology with their own students.
The latest advances in VR and AR for medical education have revolutionized the way healthcare professionals are trained, providing more immersive and effective learning experiences. Key developments include:
- Surgical Training: Virtual simulations enable trainees to practice various surgical techniques, such as laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures, in a safe and controlled environment. This hands-on experience helps develop muscle memory and reduces errors during real-life surgeries.
- Anatomy Education: VR and AR offer detailed, interactive 3D models of human anatomy, allowing medical students to visualize and understand complex structures better than traditional methods. This immersive approach enhances learning outcomes and retention.
- Clinical Skills Training: These technologies enable healthcare professionals to practice essential clinical skills, such as patient communication and physical examination, in realistic virtual scenarios. This helps build confidence and competence before working with real patients.
- Emergency and Disaster Response Training: VR and AR can simulate high-pressure situations, such as mass casualty incidents or emergency room scenarios, providing medical teams the opportunity to practice decision-making, triage, and teamwork skills in a controlled environment.
- Remote Collaboration and Telementoring: Medical professionals can now collaborate and receive real-time guidance from experts through VR and AR platforms, regardless of geographical location. This can be particularly beneficial for trainees in remote or under-resourced areas.
- Patient Education and Rehabilitation: VR and AR are being used to help patients better understand their conditions and treatment plans, as well as to aid in physical and cognitive rehabilitation. This immersive approach has been shown to increase patient engagement and adherence to therapy.
These advances in VR and AR have the potential to significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of medical education, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and a more skilled healthcare workforce.