Virtual reality simulation to enhance advanced trauma life support trainings - a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Trauma Care
• Simulation Technology

Background:

• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) is the standard for trauma patient assessment and training.
• Medical students and new clinicians face challenges applying ATLS knowledge practically.
• Virtual reality (VR) simulation shows promise as a supplementary tool for trauma education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptance of immersive VR trauma simulation for ATLS preparation.
• To assess VR's impact on medical students' readiness for the ATLS course.

Main Methods:

• Prospective randomized controlled pilot study with 56 advanced medical students.
• Intervention group received adjunct VR training; control group did not.
• Feasibility, objective/subjective effectiveness (confidence, knowledge tests, scenario scores, pass rates), and acceptance (usability, immersion, satisfaction) were measured.

Main Results:

• VR training was feasible with minimal interruptions.
• No significant differences in objective effectiveness (knowledge tests, pass rates) between groups.
• Significant improvement in subjective effectiveness, specifically increased confidence in emergency care (p < .001).
• High acceptance and usability ratings for the VR simulation.

Conclusions:

• VR trauma simulations are a feasible and acceptable supplementary tool for ATLS training.
• VR enhances subjective effectiveness (confidence) but not objective outcomes in this pilot study.
• Future research should identify specific areas where VR can uniquely enhance trauma simulation training.