No difference in learning outcomes and usability between using controllers and hand tracking during a virtual reality endotracheal intubation training for medical students in Thailand

Abstract

Purpose: We developed a virtual reality (VR) endotracheal intubation training that applied 2 interaction modalities (hand-tracking orcontrollers). It aimed to investigate the differences in usability between using hand tracking and controllers during the VR interventionfor intubation training for medical students from February 2021 to March 2021 in Thailand. Methods: Forty-five participants were divided into 3 groups: video only, video with VR controller training, and video with VR handtracking training. Pre-test, post-test, and practice scores were used to assess learning outcomes. The System Usability Scale (SUS) andUser Satisfaction Evaluation Questionnaire (USEQ) questionnaires were used to evaluate the differences between the VR groups. Thesample comprised 45 medical students (undergraduate) who were taking part in clinical training at Walailak University in Thailand. Results: The overall learning outcomes of both VR groups were better than those of the video group. The post-test scores (P=0.581)and practice scores (P=0.168) of both VR groups were not significantly different. Similarly, no significant between-group differenceswere found in the SUS scores (P=0.588) or in any aspects of the USEQ scores. Conclusion: VR enhanced medical training. Interactions using hand tracking or controllers were not significantly different in terms ofthe outcomes measured in this study. The results and interviews provided a better understanding of support learning and training,which will be further improved and developed to create a self-learning VR medical training system in the future.