Transforming Global Surgery Capacity and Capability Through Affordable Virtual Reality (NCT07403526) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Transforming Global Surgery Capacity and Capability Through Affordable Virtual Reality
Zambia33 participantsStarted 2021-09-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate whether Deliberate Virtual Reality (VR) training can improve surgical skills, knowledge, and confidence in performing postpartum hysterectomy among junior-level Zambian physicians in training.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Can VR-based surgical training improve technical surgical skills in a real-world setting?
2. Does Deliberate VR training enhance knowledge retention and confidence compared to standard clinical training?
Study Design: Researchers randomly assigned participants to either:
1 Deliberate VR Training (intervention group): A 9-day VR-based surgical training program 2. Standard Training (control group): Conventional clinical education
Participants underwent assessments of surgical skills, knowledge, and confidence before and after training using objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) and knowledge exams.
Key Findings:
1. The Deliberate VR group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in surgical knowledge, confidence, and OSATS scores compared to the standard training group.
2. VR training showed strong skill transfer to real-world surgical performance, suggesting that affordable and scalable VR training can help bridge surgical workforce gaps in resource-constrained settings.
This study highlights VR-based training as a potential scalable solution to strengthen surgical capacity in maternal health, addressing workforce shortages and improving equitable access to essential surgical care.
Who can participate
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Junior-level Zambian physicians.
. Recent graduates of the General Medical Officers (GMO) training program or first-year Obstetrics and Gynecology residents.
. Within the first 18 months of their training at public hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia.
. Actively involved in the clinical and surgical management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).
. Available for the full duration of the 9-day training period.
. Provided verbal agreement to participate after being informed about the study objectives and procedures.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Postpartum Hysterectomy Surgical Skill Performance
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-training) and post-training (Day 10)