Demonstration of Augmented and Mixed Reality Teaching Aid for Female Pelvic Examination

Date: 19 Oct 2022, Wed | Time: 1430 - 1600 | Track Type: Demonstration
Format: Face-to-face | Venue: PSL2, Level 2, Academia
Category: Technology & Innovation | Workshop Level: Novice

Speakers: Clin Asst Prof Jean-Jasmin Lee Mi-Li, Assoc Prof Ang Seng Bin and Dr Sonali Prashant Chonkar

The pelvic examination is part of the assessment of female patients in many clinical contexts. It is performed to evaluate pain, bleeding, and vaginal discharge and to screen for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections. Although an important component of the medical examination, it is often an intrusive experience for many women who feel exposed with lack of control during the process. Clinician familiarity with the gynaecologic evaluation, as well as effective and empathetic communication including consent and reassurance, can help reduce anxiety for both patients and health care professionals. In teaching the steps of the examination to medical students and junior doctors, the associated discomfort coupled with an intimate setting often poses a challenge for teachers and learners alike. 

We created an artificial intelligence (AI) teaching aid, using a pelvic model with the aim of teaching medical students and residents (including those from Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology) the approaches to the female pelvic exam. The goal is two-fold:

1. To teach learners with the medical knowledge on how to perform a proper pelvic examination; 
2. To equip learners with effective communication skills to carry out this examination with professionalism and empathy.
   

Learning Outcomes:
The pelvic examination is part of the assessment of female patients in many clinical contexts. It is performed to evaluate pain, bleeding, and vaginal discharge and to screen for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections. However, is an intrusive experience for many women who feel expose with a lack of control. In view of the intimate setting, it is difficult and may not be appropriate to have real patients for medical students and junior doctors to learn from. The lack of experience with this examination may translate to limited confidence in performing it in a way that is professional and sensitive, as well as limited ability to detect abnormal findings. Current methods of teaching the mechanics of the pelvic examination technique include didactic lectures, verbal discussions, use of checklists and mannequins which lack real time experience. There is also limited scope for handling communication in sensitive manner. Thus, an artificial-aided pelvic model using augmented and mixed reality would better simulate this examination and provide a more realistic experience. 

With more realistic training and hands-on experience, AI provides a superior method for training junior doctors in performing the pelvic examination. This will improve patient experience tremendously. Firstly, it eliminates the need for inexperienced doctors in training to practise their first few pelvic examinations on real patients, exposing them to discomfort and embarrassment. Secondly, when patients are examined as part of the clinical assessment, the doctors will be much better prepared to perform a smooth, seamless and professional pelvic examination that is well rehearsed, precise and comfortable. It also will help in learning to appropriately communicate all steps of the examination thus instilling better confidence of patients towards their doctors. Clinical outcomes will be greatly improved with accurately examination. It helps to standardise the pelvic examination technique, saving precious manpower and greatly improving the clinical training process with healthcare professionals and the clinical examination experience for patients.

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