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Virtual reality training

A new reality in PD training

A new reality in CAPD training
stay•safe MyTraining VR

DISCLAIMER

Not all products and services are cleared or available for sale in all EU countries and worldwide. Check your country web site for details. 
 

The critical role of effective peritoneal dialysis (PD) training

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) must learn practical skills to perform PD independently, so PD training typically consists of one-on-one sessions with nephrology healthcare professionals (HCPs), mainly nurses1,2.

International survey data show that a typical PD program requires about 30 hours (6 days) of mostly one-to-one training2,3. Evidence indicates that well-structured training can lead to improved outcomes: longer training was associated with reduced PD-related peritonitis4,5, and regular retraining with reduced exit-site infection risk6.

Therefore, ISPD guidelines recommend standardized PD training to reduce peritonitis rates7; and the International Home Dialysis Roundtable supports new strategies to strengthen education and patient engagement8. Visual aids, audio tools, and computer-assisted instruction are increasingly encouraged to enhance learning in PD9.

MyTraining

stay•safe MyTraining VR can support patient and HCP training programs

stay•safe MyTraining VR is an innovative continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) training service using the stay•safe system to help HCPs and patients prepare for PD therapy at home.

Virtual reality (VR) training offers a safe and controlled environment where both healthcare professionals and patients can engage in immersive, hands-on practice. By simulating realistic scenarios, VR supports multiple learning styles, including visual, auditory, interactive, and text-based elements, thereby enhancing understanding and retention of critical skills10,11. Additionally, the availability of different language options facilitates communication and helps overcome potential language barriers, ensuring the content is accessible to a broader audience.

stay•safe MyTraining VR is available as an app in the Meta Store and can be easily installed on your Meta Quest headset after subscribing.

  • Can simplify complex information and ensure standardized, high-quality instruction across centers12.
  • Can support nurses in explaining PD procedures more clearly and efficiently12. 
  • Can be used to educate caregivers and aid patient decision-making about home therapies12.
  • Offers additional training opportunities to HCPs to stay proficient in therapy procedures12.
  • Allows patients to train independently, potentially improving staff time management12.
  • Can reduce costs by minimizing the use of physical training materials12.
  • Can encourage greater adoption of home dialysis12.

  • Enables repetition at each learner’s own pace, helping patients build confidence, procedural accuracy, and muscle memory11,12.
  • Reduces anxiety around procedures and fosters empowerment in self-care12.
  • VR and gamified elements have been suggested to help standardize, simplify, and accelerate the PD training process for patients13. 
  • Improves patient self-management and may help reduce complications such as peritonitis12.
  • It can allow training from home, reducing logistical barriers while complementing hands-on training14.
The stay•safe MyTraining VR shows

What to expect from stay•safe MyTraining VR

The stay•safe MyTraining VR shows a home-like environment. Users can learn to prepare the virtual home for a sterile procedure, and adjust the environmental conditions. They are introduced to the materials used for the procedure and a simulated catheter allows users to perform a virtual bag exchange on themselves .

Das stay•safe MyTraining

The stay•safe MyTraining VR offers two modes for the CAPD procedure: a learning mode and a test.

Learning Mode

The learning mode offers step-by-step guidance from preparation to set-up, connection and, finally, disconnection. For each step, an instruction is offered by a virtual nurse followed by an action the patient needs to fulfill before the level is completed.

Test Mode

Test Mode

Once users feel confident in performing the bag exchange, they can assess their skills in Test Mode. This mode is not guided; instead, users complete the procedure step by step and receive automatic corrections if any steps are missed.

How to include stay•safe Training VR in your training program 

Designed to assist in teaching CAPD to dialysis patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, stay•safe MyTraining VR complements but does not replace hands-on training provided by qualified professionals. It can help to:

Patient_training_in_virtual_reality_at_hospital

…support patients even before starting dialysis12

During the educational process for individuals preparing to start dialysis, stay•safe MyTraining VR can be used to raise awareness of home therapies as a viable treatment option. Through this immersive, hands-on learning experience, patients, their relatives, and caregivers gain a clear understanding of what managing therapy at home entails, enabling well-informed decision-making.

…prepare new patients for later hands-on training

Before the catheter insertion or while still waiting for the exit site to heal after the catheter insertion, stay•safe MyTraining VR can already be used for dry training. The training can be done in a seated position and at a self-determined pace. Training in VR before or after the catheter insertion is intended to help patients be better prepared when starting the hands-on training.
 

…offer patients additional training opportunities during the initial patient training

Hands-on training is usually conducted alongside the normal treatment cycle of three to four bag exchanges per day. In addition, training with stay•safe MyTraining VR can offer patients the opportunity to learn and repeat the treatment steps at their own pace.

…refresh patients’ training during regular check-ins12

During their regular check-ins, patients can use stay•safe MyTraining VR to refresh or test their knowledge of the CAPD procedure.

…repeat the CAPD steps with Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) patients before an intermediate switch12

Most APD patients also learn the steps for CAPD treatment as part of their initial training, because it can be useful as a back-up, e.g. on vacation or while treating peritonitis. If necessary, the training with stay•safe MyTraining VR can help patients who do not regularly perform a manual bag exchange to re-familiarize themselves with the procedure.

…educate new colleagues on what PD treatment looks like12

You can also use stay•safe MyTraining VR to educate new colleagues and show other healthcare professionals what a home treatment can look like, how other treatment options work, and what patients learn to do by themselves at home.

How to learn more

The stay•safe MyTraining VR training service is currently available only in select countries. Please contact your local Fresenius Medical Care representative or check your country-specific website for details.

Technical support
For software-related questions only, please contact:

Disclaimer

  • Product availability, indications, and usage guidelines may vary by country. Not all products or services are cleared or available in all EU markets.
  • This product is intended for healthcare professionals in countries where it is authorized for use.
  • The stay•safe MyTraining VR application and the VR headset are not medical devices. They are intended only to supplement CAPD training for patients and HCPs by demonstrating use of the stay•safe system.
  • VR training is intended solely as a supplemental tool, and does not replace in-person training and the careful review of the relevant instructions for use (IFU) provided with each medical device.
  • Users must review and agree to the app’s Terms of Use before purchase and use.
  • Users are responsible for ensuring a safe setup and environment when using the VR system, including adequate space and supervision, if needed. We recommend performing the VR experience while seated, and ensuring patients are comfortable with the system.



Peritoneal dialysis (PD): Risks and Responsibilities

  • The reported benefits of PD may not be experienced by all patients. 
  • PD does involve some risks that may be related to the patient, center, or equipment. These include, but are not limited to, infectious complications. Examples of infectious complications include peritonitis, and exit-site and tunnel infections. Non-infectious complications include catheter complication such as migration and obstruction, peritoneal leaks, constipation, hemoperitoneum, hydrothorax, increased intraperitoneal volume, respiratory, and gastric issues. 
  • It is important for HCPs to monitor patient prescriptions and achievement of adequacy and fluid management goals. 
  • Patients should consult their doctor to understand the risks and responsibilities of performing PD.

Related content

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  • CAPD
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    2Cheetham MS, Zhao J, McCullough K, Fuller DS, Cho Y, Krishnasamy R, et al. International peritoneal dialysis training practices and the risk of peritonitis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022;37(5):937–949.

    3Bernardini J, Price V, Figueiredo A, Riemann A, Leung D. International survey of peritoneal dialysis training programs. Perit Dial Int. 2006;26(6):658–663.

    4Figueiredo AE, Moraes TP, Bernardini J, Poli-de-Figueiredo CE, Barretti P, Olandoski M, et al. Impact of patient training patterns on peritonitis rates in a large national cohort study. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2015;30(1):137–142.

    5Perl J, Fuller DS, Bieber BA, Boudville N, Kanjanabuch T, Ito Y, et al. Peritoneal dialysis-related infection rates and outcomes: results from the Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS). Am J Kidney Dis. 2020;76(1):42–53.

    6Chang JH, Oh J, Park SK, Lee J, Kim SG, Kim SJ, et al. Frequent patient retraining at home reduces the risk of peritoneal dialysis-related infections: a randomized study. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):12919.

    7Piraino B, Bernardini J, Brown E, Figueiredo A, Johnson DW, Lye WC, et al. ISPD position statement on reducing the risks of peritoneal dialysis-related infections. Perit Dial Int. 2011;31(6):614–630.

    8Mendu ML, Divino-Filho JC, Vanholder R, Mitra S, Davies SJ, Jha V, et al. Expanding utilization of home dialysis: an action agenda from the first International Home Dialysis Roundtable. Kidney Med. 2021;3(4):635–643.

    9Figueiredo AE, Bernardini J, Bowes E, Hiramatsu M, Price V, Su C, et al. A syllabus for teaching peritoneal dialysis to patients and caregivers. Perit Dial Int. 2016;36(6):592–605.

    10van der Linde-van den Bor M, Slond F, Liesdek OCD, et al. The use of virtual reality in patient education related to medical somatic treatment: A scoping review. Patient Educ Couns. 2022;105(7):1828-1841.

    11Maddox T, Chmielewski C, Fitzpatrick T. Virtual reality in chronic kidney disease education and training. Nephrol Nurs J. 2022;49(4):329–381.

    12Lonati C, Wellhausen M, Pennig S, et al. Use of a novel virtual reality training tool for peritoneal dialysis: qualitative assessment among health care professionals. JMIR Med Educ. 2024;10:e46220.

    13Zgoura P, Hettich D, Natzel J, et al. Virtual Reality Simulation in Peritoneal Dialysis Training: The Beginning of a New Era. Blood Purif. 2019;47(1-3):265-269.

    14El Shamy O. The future of peritoneal dialysis. Kidney Dial. 2025;5(3):40.

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