Donning and Doffing Simulator for Healthcare Workers Caring for COVID-19 Patients

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-7-2023

Publication Title

Surg Endosc

Abstract

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used by healthcare workers to minimize exposures to environmental hazards and to prevent the spread of pathogens. With the untimely introduction of COVID-19 into our lives, PPE standards and procedures assumed an even more crucial role in protecting healthcare workers and patients. Established training methods for donning and doffing PPE exist, such as instructor-led training and video lessons. While instructor-led training is practical, it also requires instructor time and PPE resources for implementation, both of which were limited during the pandemic. Conversely, video-based lessons are affordable, safe, and require fewer resources, but they lack the practical hands-on experience essential for learning. In this study, we developed a VR-based training environment to simulate donning and doffing PPE for rapid sequence induction (RSI) with a COVID-19-positive patient. The simulation places the learner in a virtual environment that includes an anteroom and a contaminated operating room; both were designed with guidance from medical experts to ensure we replicated the physical training environment. Learners are instructed on donning and doffing procedures, interact with the virtual PPE to test their knowledge and skills, and receive feedback. Our VR-based simulation provides an alternative learning environment that utilizes the advantages of more traditional training methods (e.g., hands-on, low-cost, preserved situational context of a simulated OR) while limiting their disadvantages (e.g., in-person instruction, use of limited resources) and introducing advantages (e.g., quantitative feedback, 24/7 availability). At the end of this virtual training experience, learners will be able to protect themselves and their patients by taking the proper safety precautions while also remaining safe and utilizing fewer precious healthcare resources.

Volume

37

First Page

S455

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