Patients across New Zealand to benefit from an advanced VR training programme which will enable clinical staff to learn quality bladder function testing; this has been made possible thanks to generous support from the Hugo Charitable Trust.
A New Zealand first VR training programme will provide accessible, quality training for doctors and nurses who need to perform bladder testing for patients suffering from urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence isn’t something most people openly talk about, but it is very common with over 600,000 adult New Zealanders, both men and women, estimated to not have full control of their bladder. It can be a very challenging condition that severely affects someone’s quality of life, affecting one in three women who have had children and one in ten men.
For those dealing with urinary problems bladder function testing, known as Urodynamics, is an important diagnostic tool which helps inform urology and gynecology specialists to determine the right course of treatment.
Urodynamics bladder testing is a very specialised skill performed by both nurses and doctors. Currently there is no established training programme in New Zealand and clinicians must travel overseas to learn via short 1-, 2- or 3-day courses. However, to become skilled requires regular practice, and it can take up to two years to perfect the skills required to do high-quality Urodynamics.
Dr Eva Fong, Urologist and Urological Surgeon
Dr Eva Fong is on a mission to improve Urodynamics training to significantly improve outcomes for patients. Thanks to support from the Hugo Charitable Trust, via the Well Foundation, she is working with a talented team from Waxeye to develop a mixed reality training technology programme, using advanced virtual reality (VR). This will, for the first time in New Zealand, provide a standardised, accessible and sustainable training solution for nurses and doctors across the country.
Patient advocate, Sally Walker
Sally Walker shares her story to highlight the need for improved Urodynamics (bladder testing) training in New Zealand.
Sally Walker underwent a mesh sling and prolapse mesh implant in 2008, with the clinician at the time not having performed Urodynamics testing. Immediately after her surgery, she had significant pain and difficulties with her bladder. Unfortunately, Sally’s mesh had pierced her bladder, and she lived with debilitating problems for 10 years. Eventually, after several surgeries to partly remove the mesh, it became clear that ongoing bladder infections and incontinence could only be solved by Sally having her bladder removed and she now lives with a bag.
In 2005, Sally had bladder testing performed by another doctor, and she was advised not to have a mesh sling as the risks for complications were high. Unfortunately, the surgeon who performed Sally’s mesh operation in 2008 did not undertake another Urodynamics test. Perhaps it was because of lack of knowledge of how important bladder testing is or lack of confidence because they didn’t know how to do the testing. One thing is clear, if Sally’s bladder testing had been redone in 2008, she may have avoided her mesh complications and the eventual loss of her bladder. Sally now campaigns for safety in women’s health and she personally supports 140 other mesh injured women.
Sally’s story demonstrates the importance and critical need for high quality Urodynamics testing. Hugo Charitable Trust’s support will allow the development of a specialised VR training model for Urodynamics testing so that health practitioners, wherever they are in New Zealand, can learn how to do quality urodynamics without having to travel and incur significant expense. It will also enable them to learn, practice and improve their skills without affecting patients. Perhaps, most importantly, it will allow them to be taught to a high and safe standard, providing better diagnosis, better treatment planning and ultimately better outcomes for patients.
In 2022, The Hugo Charitable Trust provided funding for an initial proof of concept to test if virtual reality training for Urodynamics would be successful and it was well received by clinical experts and training nurses.
We are therefore thrilled to now be able to fully develop this training programme, so that it will be accessible for doctors and nurses across New Zealand to improve outcomes for the thousands of people affected by bladder incontinence.
Special thanks to the Hugo Charitable Trust for making this possible.
Hugo Charitable Trust has generously provided Well Foundation with funding so Dr Eva Fong can develop an advanced mixed reality education programme to enable quality, accessible training for doctors and nurses who provide bladder testing, known as urodynamics training.
Our impact is only made possible through the following incredibly generous organisations:
