Presentations

Abstract

Introduction:

Pediatric residents' demanding workloads and long hours have been associated with increased physical and emotional fatigue, raising concerns about patient care and resident well-being. This study addresses the urgent need for interventions to enhance the wellness of pediatric residents. With advancements in technology, virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are gaining prominence in medicine, holding the potential to positively impact the well-being of pediatric residents and faculty.

Methods:

Pediatric residents were surveyed to rank wellness categories of most importance: emotional, financial, environmental, skills, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual. Survey results were compared to a previous wellness survey (July 2022) of Virginia AAP pediatricians. Subsequently, residents were asked to participate in a VR emotional intervention based on survey results. The intervention featured a serene beach scene complemented by an Al-generated wellness script voiceover through an Oculus headset or computer.

Pre- and post-intervention surveys were administered to all residents, assessing subjective stress levels, using a Likert scale (1: minimal stress to 5: severe stress. Comments and time each resident spent watching the video were collected. Comments included residents' thoughts about the VR experience and ways to improve it.

Results:

The initial study's findings aligned with a wellness survey of 79 Virginia AAP pediatricians conducted in July 2022, wherein emotional and physical wellness received the highest rankings. Among the 30 residents who participated in the VR intervention, results included: before VR intervention, stress levels averaged 2.83 (SD = 1.15). Following VR intervention, the average stress level decreased to 1.50 (SD = 0.63) (p-value <0.001). Residents watched the video for an average of 6 minutes (range 2 to 15 minutes). Comments (11) about the VR experience were 100% favorable.

Conclusion:

The substantial decrease in stress levels after the VR intervention reflects the favorable use of VR to decrease resident stress. While limitations, such as the small sample size and potential biases require consideration, this research provides valuable insights into the potential impact of virtual reality on wellness. The study also reflects favorably on the use of Al in constructing VR experiences for residents. Future studies will hope to include VR experiences for faculty and address physical wellness.