Effectiveness of Virtual and Augmented Reality for Emergency Healthcare Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Emergency Medicine Training
• Immersive Learning Environments

Background:

• Quality healthcare relies on effective emergency clinical training.
• Technological advancements enable innovative, engaging training methods.
• Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) show promise in healthcare education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of AR and VR in emergency healthcare training.
• To compare VR and AR training outcomes against traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with three groups: VR, AR, and control.
• Intervention groups received in-class instruction plus VR (Meta Quest) or AR (iPhone).
• Control group received only in-class instruction and manikin practice for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Main Results:

• Both VR and AR interventions enhanced learning effectiveness and user satisfaction.
• Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) in post-intervention knowledge were observed, with VR yielding the highest scores.
• Satisfaction levels did not show statistically significant differences between groups.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality (VR) procedures are effective in boosting learning outcomes for emergency training.
• Immersive technologies like VR offer a valuable supplement to traditional healthcare education.