Medical students train disinfection in VR

"Learning how to disinfect surgical hands is one of the most important first steps in getting young doctors into the operating theatre during their training," says Professor Dr Veit Braun, Head of Neurosurgery at Diakonie Klinikum Jung-Stilling in Siegen, who came up with the idea for the training application. Hand disinfection requires a lot of practice and discipline. It often happens to young doctors that they make themselves unsterile and have to go back to the washroom instead of assisting in the operation. This neither serves the training objective nor is it very pleasant for medical students to "embarrass" themselves in front of the operating theatre team, according to a press release from the University of Siegen.

Playful learning

Users can playfully go through the various steps of operating theatre preparation: from putting on the surgical undergarments to the multi-stage disinfection of hands and forearms in the wash area, entering the operating theatre and putting on a sterile gown. The final step is a quiz with questions about medical knowledge. Points are awarded for all steps at the end of the simulation. "This is intended to motivate students to go through the scenario several times and also to increase the learning effect," explains the university. The simulation gives the realistic impression of a hospital environment - including the route across the corridor and through a large door into the preparation room with benches, lockers and operating theatre clothing, where the training begins.

Perfectly disinfected

How we reportedThere was already an infection prevention project at the University Hospital of Zurich, which was primarily aimed at carers.

Source: WP