Evaluation of Virtual Reality in Orthopaedic Training—A Pioneering Pilot Study

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of VR for surgical training and identify the user requirements for surgical training VR applications. Nine orthopaedic surgical trainees were recruited. A multimodal approach was employed using three elements of data collection. This included measurements of head movement while experiencing VR, followed by a survey, and then a one-to-one interview. During the survey and interviews, three key areas were investigated including the technical quality of the VR material, VR usability, and the VR user experience. The VR application design provided surgical trainees with detailed imagery as well as rich information, allowing them to apply theory to practice during remote virtual training. However, several recommendations to improve the quality of the video, the usability, and the user experience are offered. Moreover, the findings suggested a positive educational impact of the VR application, although further evidence is required. Theoretical contributions and avenues for further research are offered together with the implications for practice.