Virtual reality for training emergency medicine residents in emergency scenarios: usefulness of a tutorial to enhance the simulation experience

Introduction: Critical events in healthcare require a rapid and coordinated approach: simulation has been demonstrated a valid technique for training in emergency. Virtual Reality (VR) is an innovative technology that has revolutionized simulation training and healthcare professional development. A key phase of a simulation session with manikin consists in a familiarization with setting and equipment. The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether familiarization with a VR tutorial can change the perception of cases. Methods: Emergency medicine residents were randomly assigned to the Intervention group (n = 21) who undergone familiarization tutorial prior to the clinical scenario to a Control group (n = 21) where no familiarization tutorial was provided before the clinical scenario. Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding perceived ease of use, but the Intervention group found VR familiarization useful and the Control group found it necessary to implement a VR tutorial. VR training was generally perceived by learners as a useful technology for training as confirmed by the literature. Discussion: Familiarization seems to be an important phase of simulation-based training for trainees, even when running a VR-based simulation for an emergency scenario; it should be incorporated into the clinical VR sessions for simulation in healthcare settings.