Virtual reality versus webinar trans healthcare training for emergency medicine residents: a feasibility study

Introduction Transgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) patient care is not routinely taught in medical training. As a result, clinicians frequently lack knowledge regarding gender-affirming practices, surgeries and medications. TGNB-specific health knowledge and care delivery are further negatively impacted by pervasive societal transphobia. Virtual reality (VR)-based instruction may provide learners with opportunities for perspective taking, empathy building and attitudinal shifting to improve care delivery to TGNB patients. Methods This was a feasibility trial that compared passive VR and webinar in changing learner attitudes, knowledge and medical decision-making (MDM). Residents were recruited from five US emergency medicine (EM) residencies and were randomized to either VR or webinar educational intervention arm. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were matched using a unique identifier. Participants provided feedback about platform usability. Results From August 2020 to October 2021, 206 resident participants were randomized into a case-based VR experience or webinar intervention on TGNB-specific EM medicine; 52 residents completed all three steps of the study. Webinar participants demonstrated more changes in attitudinal statements than VR participants. No improvements in knowledge or MDM were appreciated in either intervention arm. Participants in both arms shared positive and critical feedback about the intervention they accessed, with convenience and ease of use being valued for asynchronous webinar learning. Discussion The webinar arm demonstrated a higher increase in empathy or change in attitude compared to VR learners. As VR becomes more technologically agile, accessible and reliable, more work is needed to see if this novel format is an educational tool that closely approximates the standardized patient encounter.