Where simulation meets science: rethinking clinical education through immersive technology

Observed Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are a cornerstone of clinical healthcare education — but due to the time and resources they demand, they often fall short of the authentic complexity students will face in real clinical environments.

Existing research into immersive technology in clinical education has further limitations: most studies are non-longitudinal, focused narrowly on procedural competency, and rarely engage with learning theory in their design. There is a clear need for a rigorous, transferable framework that goes beyond single-procedure competency to develop critical thinking, teamwork, and adaptability in high-risk settings.

Building on the MESH360 project — established in 2016 and developed across three design-based research cycles – Thomas Cochrane and his collaborators are now working with BLISs (Blended Learning Interactive Simulation Suite) at the Centre's clinical simulation lab to prototype and evaluate the next generation of immersive clinical simulation. The suite enables a combination of technologies previously impossible to bring together in a single research environment: an interactive immersive room, augmented reality overlays on high-fidelity manikins, and biometric feedback including heart rate monitoring and eye-tracking. Scenarios can be switched almost instantaneously, representing a wide range of real-world clinical settings. Industry partners – Simovation, Epworth Healthcare, RealResponse, and SeekBeak – contribute expertise across hardware, software, clinical simulation, and immersive reality development.

With the environment established, the project uses Design Based Research to evaluate the impact of immersive simulation on student learning by triangulating pre/post surveys and focus groups with scenario interaction data – eye-tracking heatmaps, hotspot activation, and biometric stress indicators – to build a multi-dimensional picture of how simulation affects learning outcomes. The goal is a scalable, transferable framework for immersive clinical simulation that builds staff digital literacies, matches real-world practice, and produces graduates better prepared for problem-solving in high-risk environments. Presented at ASCILITE 2024, this work positions BLISs as a serious research environment – not just a teaching tool, but a platform for advancing the science of clinical simulation.

Interested in using BLISs as a platform for your own research? Get in touch to discuss a collaboration or book a tour of the suite.