Immersion for Care: First-Hand Training in Robotic Surgery Education

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Immersive Technology in Healthcare: Video Capture of Robotic Surgery for Extended Reality (XR) Training Development.

• IRAS ID

  369503

• Contact name

  Salvatore Livatino

• Contact email

  s.livatinos@herts.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Hertfordshire

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  Healthcare services face growing challenges in recruiting and training staff, particularly in highly specialised environments such as operating theatres, where access for learners is limited and costly. This research explores how Extended Reality (XR) — immersive digital technology including virtual and augmented reality — can improve healthcare education, build confidence, and increase awareness of clinical careers.

  The study aims to develop an affordable and practical XR training system that allows students and healthcare professionals to experience real clinical workflows, including surgical environments, in a safe and repeatable way. Using image-based XR, participants will be able to observe and explore operating theatre practices that they would normally have little opportunity to access. This approach supports learning, familiarisation with clinical settings, and career development.

  The project will focus on healthcare training rather than patient treatment. It will evaluate how immersive XR experiences can enhance understanding of professional roles, improve skills development, and support recruitment into health and social care.

  Participants may include healthcare students and professionals. They will take part in XR-based learning sessions and provide feedback on usability, learning value, and confidence gained. The study will be conducted in healthcare education and clinical training settings, including hospital environments.

  The research will run over a defined project period and involves experiencing XR simulations rather than medical procedures. No direct clinical intervention is involved.

  Potential benefits include improved access to restricted clinical environments, more engaging training, reduced reliance on expensive external simulation systems, and stronger recruitment pipelines for the healthcare workforce.
  The project is led by Professor Salvatore Livatino (University of Hertfordshire and Professor Nikhil Vasdev (Robotic Surgery, Lister Hospital), and is funded through healthcare and academic collaboration. Recruitment will take place through participating healthcare and educational organisations
  

• REC name

  London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  26/PR/0489

• Date of REC Opinion

  9 Jun 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion