The benefits of virtual reality (VR) training over traditional training methods have been demonstrated by numerous studies around the world. Due to the benefits that have been established, this has attracted considerable interest and been used in many areas, including pharma and healthcare. Here are some testimonials and instances of evidence demonstrating the value of VR training in different fields:
In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched its first ever VR Laboratory training course to keep pace with the evolving training needs during the public health emergencies. In a pilot study conducted for evaluation, through a biological safety cabinet (BSC) VR training course, it showed that VR training could be an effective training modality to improve learners’ confidence and teach laboratory skills. An interesting statistic came out during the pilot study:
94% (n = 34) of pilot-testers with BSC experience agreed that VR technology gave them practical experience using a BSC.
95% (n = 56) of pilot-testers agreed that the inclusion of the VR technology made it easier to learn the content.
95% (n = 56) of pilot-testers agreed that the VR technology was easy to use.
100% (n = 23) of pilot-testers with no BSC experience reported increased confidence using the skills.
A recent study from UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine reported that VR training improved participants’ overall surgical performance by 230% compared with traditional training methods.
Global Pharmaceutical companies including Merck, J&J and Pfizer have gained significant benefits from using this technology.
In 2017, Johnson & Johnson Institute’s Education Technology & Innovation team developed VR experiences to train surgeons to implant orthopedic devices. The outcomes that stood out were as follows.
When performing a simulated intramedullary nailing of a tibia, osso VR -trained medical students scored 233% higher than students trained with passive learning tools.
The percentage of steps osso VR-trained students completed was also 252% higher than students trained with passive learning tools.
At Pfizer’s Research & Development hub in Cambridge, Mass., chemists, neuroscientists, and other researchers use 3D VisBox technology to visualize and virtually explore the human body at the molecular level.
A study published in the journal "JAMA Surgery" in 2017 demonstrated that VR simulation training improved the skills of surgical residents and reduced errors in the operating room. In this randomized clinical experiment including 18 senior orthopedic surgery residents, those who received immersive virtual reality training outperformed the control group who only received technical video teaching in terms of knowledge and procedural metrics.
There are numerous such examples. These results demonstrate how Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to replace, enhance, and supplement traditional training across industries, while also drastically shortening the learning curves and reducing human errors.
A word of caution:
Carefully select your XR company who is specialized in GMP environments when creating a new training program. While XR technologies have seen significant potential, having technical expertise alone isn't enough for this industry. It's essential to include individuals well-versed in GMP and your specific operating procedures in the development process. You can involve your in-house GMP experts in tandem with the XR company to ensure the solution aligns with industry regulations. However, if the XR company lacks a genuine understanding of GMP, achieving a satisfactory solution might require multiple revisions. Therefore, the ideal approach involves partnering with an XR company that comprehends both technology and GMP & regulatory intricacies to streamline the development of your solution.