Developing the Virtual Resus Room: Fidelity, Usability, Acceptability, and Applicability of a Virtual Simulation for...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Online Simulation in Healthcare
• Crisis Resource Management Training

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift from in-person to online medical education.
• Existing online teaching methods faced challenges in replicating collaborative, hands-on learning experiences.
• There was a need for accessible, effective virtual tools for medical simulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Virtual Resus Room (VRR), a novel, free, open-access online resource.
• To evaluate the usability, acceptability, applicability, and fidelity of the VRR for medical training.
• To assess the impact of VRR on student knowledge and skills in crisis resource management.

Main Methods:

• The VRR was developed using Google Slides and Zoom for collaborative online simulations.
• Emergency medicine clerkship students and facilitators at McMaster University participated in VRR simulations.
• Post-session surveys assessed usability, acceptability, applicability, and fidelity; knowledge tests were administered pre- and post-simulation.

Main Results:

• High ratings for usability, acceptability, applicability, and fidelity were reported by students and facilitators.
• Students demonstrated significant knowledge improvement (P < .001) with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.23).
• VRR simulations required less facilitation time compared to in-person simulations (119 vs. 181 minutes).

Conclusions:

• The Virtual Resus Room (VRR) is a highly rated, effective tool for online medical simulation.
• VRR enhances crisis resource management skills, knowledge acquisition, and communication in medical learners.
• VRR presents a time-efficient and valuable alternative for medical training, with potential for broader application.