Virtual Reality for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Healthcare Professionals Training: A Systematic Review

Virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly popular to train health-care professionals (HCPs) to acquire and/or maintain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) basic or advanced skills.

To understand whether VR in CPR training or retraining courses can have benefits for patients (neonatal, pediatric, and adult), HCPs and health-care organizations as compared to traditional CPR training.

A systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42023431768) following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In June 2023, the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases were searched and included studies evaluated in their methodological quality with Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. Data were narratively summarized.

Fifteen studies published between 2013 and 2023 with overall fair quality were included. No studies investigated patients' outcomes. At the HCP level, the virtual learning environment was perceived to be engaging, realistic and facilitated the memorization of the procedures; however, limited decision-making, team building, psychological pressure and frenetic environment were underlined as disadvantages. Moreover, a general improvement in performance was reported in the use of the defibrillator and carrying out the chest compressions. At the organizational level, one study performed a cost/benefit evaluation in favor of VR as compared to traditional CPR training.

The use of VR for CPR training and retraining is in an early stage of development. Some benefits at the HCP level are promising. However, more research is needed with standardized approaches to ensure a progressive accumulation of the evidence and inform decisions regarding the best training methodology in this field.