Abstract
Delays in acute stroke treatment contribute to severe and negative impacts for patients and significant healthcare costs. Variability in clinical care is a contributor to delayed treatment, particularly in rural, regional and remote (RRR) areas. Targeted approaches to improve stroke workflow processes improve outcomes, but numerous challenges exist particularly in RRR settings. Virtual reality (VR) applications can provide immersive and engaging training and overcome some existing training barriers. We recently initiated the TACTICS trial, which is assessing a “package intervention” to support advanced CT imaging and streamlined stroke workflow training. As part of the educational component of the intervention we developed TACTICS VR, a novel VR-based training application to upskill healthcare professionals in optimal stroke workflow processes. In the current manuscript, we describe development of the TACTICS VR platform which includes the VR-based training application, a user-facing website and an automated back-end data analytics portal. TACTICS VR was developed via an extensive and structured scoping and consultation process, to ensure content was evidence-based, represented best-practice and is tailored for the target audience. Further, we report on pilot implementation in 7 Australian hospitals to assess the feasibility of workplace-based VR training. A total of 104 healthcare professionals completed TACTICS VR training. Users indicated a high level of usability, acceptability and utility of TACTICS VR, including aspects of hardware, software design, educational content, training feedback and implementation strategy. Further, users self-reported increased confidence in their ability to make improvements in stroke management after TACTICS VR training (post-training mean ± SD = 4.1 ± 0.6; pre-training = 3.6 ± 0.9; 1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). Very few technical issues were identified, supporting the feasibility of this training approach. Thus, we propose that TACTICS VR is a fit-for-purpose, evidence-based training application for stroke workflow optimisation that can be readily deployed on-site in a clinical setting.
Highlights
Delays in time-to-reperfusion treatment for stroke patients can have severe and negative impacts on outcomes [1]
A total of 104 TACTICS Virtual reality (VR) sessions were logged between October 2019 and March 2020
User accuracy was highest for the pre-hospital notification (87%; 5 total scene decisions) and treatment scenes (87%; 3 decisions) and lower in the initial assessment (80%; 8 decisions) and radiology scenes (70%; 8 decisions)
Summary
Delays in time-to-reperfusion treatment for stroke patients can have severe and negative impacts on outcomes [1]. Given the consequences associated with reperfusion treatment delay, efficient and accurate treatment in workflow processes (which is dependent upon healthcare staff training) is critical to ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Variability in clinical care is known to be a major contributor to the delayed delivery of treatments and in turn sub-optimal patient outcomes [5], in rural, regional and remote (RRR) areas. “door-to-reperfusion treatment delivery” time in rural NSW Australia hospitals is >100 min [6], whereas guidelines target
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
