Abstract
Background: Sepsis kills more than 8 million people a year, much of which is preventable. Training in sepsis recognition and management plays a key role in reducing this burden. However, there is increasing pressure on simulation budgets and subsequently more cost-efficient methods of delivering simulation training are required. Oxford Medical Simulation have therefore created a virtual reality suite of sepsis scenarios, delivered via Oculus rift, designed to improve access and reduce the cost of simulation.
Learning objectives: The scenarios focus on the early recognition and optimal management of sepsis. This includes assessment, investigation and management in accordance with NICE sepsis guidelines. Feedback also focuses on crisis resource management principles including decision-making, communication and team management under pressure, as well as patient-focused communication skills.
Description of the simulation: Learners are immersed in a virtual emergency department with fully interactive patient, nurse, medications and adaptive, real-time physiology system. The learner must actively review the patient (performing history, examinations, investigations, interpreting results and administering treatment) and manage their team against the clock. This is followed by guided reflection and interactive feedback comparing learner actions to ideal management.
This structure is designed to emphasise elements of deliberate practice and encourage scenario repetition. Engagement is enhanced through increasing scenario difficulty, overt time pressure and gamification including score provision.
Summary of usage/evaluation: The sepsis suite is currently in pilots to evaluate learner engagement, efficacy and integration with the physical simulation curriculum. Preiminary results demonstrate it to be intuitive, immersive, well-liked and lead to significant improvement in key behaviours across scenarios.
A separate evaluation of learner response to guided reflection and objective feedback has been completed by University College London Knowledge Lab.
