Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-cjp7w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-05T22:17:03.887Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

From education to research: a journey of utilising virtual training

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2016

Adéle Stewart-Lord
Adéle Stewart-Lord*
Affiliation:
School of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, London, UK
*
Correspondence to: Dr Adéle Stewart-Lord, School of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK. Tel: +44 207 815 7931. Fax: +44 207 815 7933. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

London South Bank University (LSBU) has successfully implemented Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) across the therapeutic radiography training curricula and are now supporting the use of VERT for patient education in clinical departments. A number of publications have reported on the use of VERT in education and training; more recent literature has focused on the use of VERT for patient education.

Materials and methods

The successful introduction of VERT before students’ first clinical placements resulted in the development of a ‘Pre-Clinical week’ where students practice and improve their technical skills, using the hand controls without a patient present, leading to increased confidence in clinical practice. Other examples of VERT curriculum integration at LSBU focused on the use of VERT for anatomy teaching. The more recent innovation at LSBU relevant to VERT integration has been the design, development and implementation of collaborative research projects where the aims of the studies were to explore patients’ perceptions of VERT as an information giving resource before radiotherapy delivery.

Summary

The introduction of VERT as education tool has enabled academic staff to develop a range of teaching methods to embed virtual training into the traditional classroom setting, demonstrating innovation and collaboration.

Keywords

educationskill developmentteachingtrainingVERT
Type
Educational Note
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 85 - 90
Check for updates
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Appleyard, R, Coleman, L. Virtual environment for radiotherapy training (VERT) final project report. Department of health for England, Cancer action team. Soc Coll Radiographers 2010; 1: 1–58.Google Scholar
2.Sule-Suso, J, Finney, S, Bisson, Jet al. Pilot study on virtual imaging for patient information on radiotherapy planning and delivery. Radiography 2015; 21: 273–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.The Society and College of Radiographers. Improving student retention: guidelines and good practice, 2009. http://www.sor.org/learning/document-library/improving-student-retention-guidelines-and-good-practice. Accessed on 6th December 2015.Google Scholar
4.National Radiotherapy Advisory Group. Report to ministers from national radiotherapy advisory group, 2007. http://www.google.co.uk/url?url=http://www.axrem.org.uk/radiotheraphy_papers/DH_Radiotheraphy_developing_first_class_service_NRAG.pdf&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=isdYVP2AGoK_sQT9wIGwBg&ved=0CBQQFjAA&sig2=tsQxLMpHa2y1CKIaKqzurw&usg=AFQjCNEzHI3alA8F2HhRfMqf4cK6QN4vEA. Accessed on 17th September 2014.Google Scholar
5.Riva, G. Applications of virtual environments in medicine. Methods Inf Med 2003; 42 (5): 524–534.Google ScholarPubMed
6.Aebersold, M, Tschannen, D, Bathish, M. Innovative simulation strategies in education. Nursing Research and Practice 2012. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/nrp/2012/765212/. Accessed on 14th July 2015.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Issenberg, S, Scalese, R J. Best evidence on high‐fidelity simulation: what clinical teachers need to know. Clin Teach 2007; 4 (2): 73–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Knudson, L. Integrating simulation into student learning experiences. AORN J 2013; 97 (4): C5–C6.Google ScholarPubMed
9.De Visser, H, Watson, M O, Salvado, O, Passenger, J D. Progress in virtual reality simulators for surgical training and certification. Med J Aust 2011; 194 (4): S38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Oestergaard, J, Bjerrum, F, Maagaard, Met al. Instructor feedback versus no instructor feedback on performance in a laparoscopic virtual reality simulator: a randomized educational trial. BMC Med Educ 2012; 12 (1): 7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Schiavenato, M. Reevaluating simulation in nursing education: beyond the human patient simulator. J Nurs Educ 2009; 48 (7): 388–394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Schroedl, C J, Corbridge, T C, Cohen, E Ret al. Use of simulation-based education to improve resident learning and patient care in the medical intensive care unit: a randomized trial. J Crit Care 2012; 27 (2): 219e7–219e13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Watson, K, Wright, A, Morris, Net al. Can simulation replace part of clinical time? Two parallel randomised controlled trials. Med Educ 2012; 46 (7): 657–667.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Beavis, A, Phillips, R, Ward, J. Radiotherapy training tools for yesterday’s future. Imaging Oncol 2007; 1: 30–35.Google Scholar
15.Phillips, R, Ward, J W, Page, Let al. Virtual reality training for radiotherapy becomes a reality. Stud Health Technol Inform 2008; 132: 366.Google ScholarPubMed
16.Green, D, Appleyard, R. The influence of VERT™ characteristics on the development of skills in skin apposition techniques. Radiography 2011; 17 (3): 178–182.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Boejen, A, Grau, C. Virtual reality in radiation therapy training. Surg Oncol 2011; 20 (3): 185–188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Nisbet, H, Matthews, S. The educational theory underpinning a clinical workbook for VERT. Radiography 2011; 17 (1): 72–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Bridge, P, Appleyard, R, Ward, Jet al. The development and evaluation of a virtual radiotherapy treatment machine using an immersive visualisation environment. Comp Educ 2007; 49 (2): 481–494.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Flinton, D. Competency based assessment using a virtual environment for radiotherapy. Procedia Comp Sci 2013; 25: 399–401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.James, S, Dumbleton, C. An evaluation of the utilisation of the virtual environment for radiotherapy training (VERT) in clinical radiotherapy centres across the UK. Radiography 2013; 19 (2): 142–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Vertual Ltd. 2015. http://www.vertual.eu/. Accessed on 6th December 2015.Google Scholar
23.Vertual Ltd. 2015 PEARL. http://www.vertual.eu/products/pearl. Accessed on 6th December 2015.Google Scholar