1035 Advancing Surgical Pedagogy in the Global South Using VR: Implementation and Early Outcomes of Regionally Led Hubs

Abstract Aim To assess feasibility, demand, and educational impact of regionally led VR-based surgical training hubs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Method We are conducting a mixed-methods evaluation of the VRiMS training program across LMIC hubs. Outreach extended to nine African LMICs. Surgeons from Burundi, Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya were invited to the UK to co-create immersive surgical training content in native languages for locally relevant cadaveric procedures. Modules were created using 360° cameras, merged with instructive overlays. Trainees undergo pre- and post-training evaluations capturing procedural confidence, anatomical understanding, and skill development. Questionnaires assess key global-surgery domains including training accessibility, equity of access, contextual relevance, technical feasibility within local infrastructure, skill development, operative readiness, and local capacity to sustain VR-based education. Results Five regional hubs are now operational, with others underway. Findings from 750 UK participants demonstrated significant gains in procedural confidence (mean 1.99 to 3.79, p<0.001) and anatomical understanding (mean 2.48 to 4.03, p<0.001) across 21 surgical procedures. Preliminary cadaveric-course data demonstrated strong educational impact, with mean scores of 4.8 for relevance to local case mix, 4.6 for acquisition of technical skills, and 4.4 for increased confidence to teach. Data collection from LMIC hubs is ongoing to evaluate equivalence and contextual variation in outcomes using aligned evaluation metrics. Conclusions Early implementation of VRiMS regional hubs across African LMICs highlights strong demand and engagement for immersive VR-based surgical training. Ongoing co-production and expansion will enable further evaluation of their potential to strengthen surgical training capacity and improve equitable access across the Global South.