510 Smart Glasses Technology Enhancing Surgical Education: A Pilot Study
G Kettyle, R CoulsonAbstract
Aim
The pilot study demonstrated how surgical education can be enhanced using smart glasses technology. The head-mounted set, worn by the operating surgeon, allows a live broadcast of the surgical field and supporting commentary to be relayed to students watching remotely on site. In addition, this study highlighted how smart glasses can streamline teaching and maintain sterile conditions in theatre.
Method
This study was conducted in April 2024 over a five-day period with dedicated theatre lists of both open and laparoscopic procedures. Twenty medical students from Queen’s University, Belfast and Royal College of Surgeons Ireland were able to view the live streamed surgical broadcast in the hospital education centre. Following the intervention, students completed a questionnaire, allowing researchers to gain an insight into whether this technology fulfilled the necessary criteria to meet university curriculum standards.
Results
Of the 20 students who took part in the study, 100% agreed that they would like to use this form of learning again. 85% agreed this experience was ‘as good as’ or ‘even better’ in comparison to being an onlooker ‘scrubbed in’ in theatre and 100% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ the quality of the image was sufficient to follow a complete surgery.
Conclusions
Student learning can be delivered in several ways, with multiple teaching strategies complementing each other. Smart glasses technology can be used to enhance the delivery of surgical exposure with notable benefits in the sphere of surgical education and training. Students deemed the use of smart glasses technology a positive experience which augmented their learning.