Virtual Reality for Pediatric Trauma Education - A Face and Content Validation Study

Abstract

Purpose: Pediatric trauma is a leading cause of death and disability among children. While trauma education can improve these outcomes, it remains expensive and available only to a few providers worldwide. Innovative educational technologies like virtual reality (VR) can be key to democratizing trauma education. This study, therefore, evaluates the face and content validity of a VR platform designed to enhance pediatric trauma skills. Specifically, we seek to determine whether the platform effectively presents an injured child and comprehensively covers the essential tasks to successfully treat them within a trauma team. Methods: Physicians were invited to test a VR platform simulating a child with blunt head and truncal trauma. After the simulation, they filled out surveys assessing the face and content validity of the scenario, including their opinions on the realism, interaction, ease of use, and the educational content of the platform. Additionally, they completed a cybersickness questionnaire. Demographic data were also collected, including age, gender, country of medical education, and previous experience with VR. A descriptive analysis was performed. Results: Eleven physicians graduated from eight different countries tested the VR platform. Most (87%) found it valuable, and 81% preferred using it over high-fidelity mannequins for training purposes. The platform received more favorable evaluations for non-technical skills training (median: 5, IQR: 5.0 to 5.0) than for technical skills (median: 4, IQR: 3.0 to 5.0). Regarding cybersickness, 73% of the participants reported experiencing any or minimal discomfort during the simulation, and none needed to stop the test due to discomfort. Conclusion: Our initial validation of a VR platform designed for pediatric trauma education was positive. Participants endorsed VR and its potential to enhance performance, particularly in non-technical skills. Encouraged by these results, we will proceed with feasibility and implementation studies, comparing VR to high-fidelity mannequins.