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Pharmacy Practice

(386) Introduction Virtual Reality Video on Student Pharmacists’ Performance in a USP 797 Skills Laboratory Activity

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Trainee Category: Student Pharmacist
Objective : To assess the impact of an introductory virtual reality (VR) cleanroom video on second-year pharmacy students’ performance in a USP 797 cleanroom activity.

Methods: Self-enrolled second-year pharmacy students completed a pre-survey during their pharmacy skills foundations laboratory course. Students were randomized into the test group or control group. Both groups were given the regular course preparation materials, including two-dimensional videos, readings, and the activity grading rubric. Additionally, the test group was given access to a 360-degree virtual reality (VR) cleanroom video introducing the setting and activity. During the hands-on sterile compounding activity in the same cleanroom suite as the VR video, students were assessed using a standardized performance rubric. This rubric was created based upon USP < 797> Sterile Compounding guidelines on four themes: personnel preparation, preparation of primary engineering control, sterile compounding technique, and final compounded preparation visual inspection and verification. Student performance was scored by the the 24-question standardized performance rubric, then presented with averages and standard deviations for the total score of each group; additionally per skill categorical data was described as frequencies and percentages. Continuous data (total performance score) was assessed between the control and test group with an unpaired t-test.

Results: Data collection is in progress for the 92 second-year pharmacy students.

Conclusions: Technical aspects of sterile compounding, such as garbing and hygiene, have typically been taught using a structured approach to ensure accurate performance of required tasks. In recent years, literature has shown that VR simulations can improve students’ practice in the clinical setting. This study will assess the effectiveness of an introductory VR video on student performance.