BACKGROUND
Remote presence robotic technologies (RPRT) in medicine have been primarily utilized as a virtual clinical interface for geographically isolated or resource limited communities. However, its potential as an educational conduit is slowly beginning to be realized.
OBJECTIVE
To study the acceptability and perspectives of RPRT in acute pediatric simulation education.
METHODS
Pediatric residents and health care providers participated in a qualitative mixed methods sequential study including post simulation surveys and semi-structured interviews.
RESULTS
Main themes from surveys and interviews included the improved communication and objective assessment that occurred with RPRT guided simulation, as well as improved feedback for the multi-disciplinary team. The major drawback of RPRT were technological difficulties in establishing RPRT connection during debrief. Feedback provided from this study has led to regular integration of RPRT into the multi-disciplinary simulation program and improved connectivity on our teaching unit.
CONCLUSIONS
Simulation using RPRT may improve communication between the multi-disciplinary team and pediatric intensivists. It may also be considered for pediatric post-graduate medicine education.
CLINICALTRIAL
N/A