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Extended Reality Technology in Otolaryngology Education Is Currently Limited to Virtual Reality

by Linda Kossoff •

What is the current state of extended reality use in otolaryngology education?

BOTTOM LINE

Current use of extended reality (XR) technology in otolaryngology education is limited to virtual reality (VR).

BACKGROUND: Collectively referred to as XR, simulation technologies are used in patient care, preoperative surgical planning, perioperative assistance, and education. Simulation-based medical education (SBME), including surgical simulators, is known to improve learner knowledge and transfer of skills; however, little is known about current use and outcomes of XR in otolaryngology education.

STUDY DESIGN: Scoping review.

SETTING: Institute of Health Sciences Education, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

SYNOPSIS: Researchers mined the literature for studies involving otolaryngology trainees/medical students who used XR for educational purposes in otolaryngology and reported learner-relevant outcome measures. For the study, XR was defined as fully immersive VR using head-mounted displays (HMDs), nonimmersive (NIVR) and semi-immersive (SIVR) VR, augmented reality (AR), or mixed reality (MR). After initial and full-text screenings, 40 articles were extracted for review. Of these, no studies evaluating the pedagogical use of AR and MR were identified. Most VR studies were categorized as SIVR (29), a few were NIVR, and none used occlusive HMDs; thus, none met current concepts of immersive VR. No studies reported fully immersing participants using an HMD. Most incorporated haptic feedback. Authors note that most studies (29) targeted temporal bone surgery. Similarly, most reported on only a subset of possible educational outcome measures on the Kirkpatrick evaluation framework, with all studies reporting on level 1 (learner reaction) or 2 (knowledge or skill performance) outcomes but not level 3 (assessment of performance) or level 4 (patient outcomes). Most studies focused on medical student learners. Study limitations included the exclusion of studies investigating the psychometric properties of XR devices.

CITATION: Zagury-Orly I, Solinski MA, Nguyen LH, et al. What is the current state of extended reality use in otolaryngology training? A scoping review. [published online ahead of print May 12, 2022]. Laryngoscope.