Virtual Reality Training in Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Non-Medical Community Members
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique that can be performed by anyone in case of a cardiac arrest. However, many people lack the confidence and skills to perform CPR, especially on children. According to the American Heart Association, only about 46% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR before professional help arrives . Moreover, CPR for children is different from CPR for adults, and requires more care and precision. Therefore, it is important to train non-medical community members on how to perform pediatric CPR effectively and safely.
One of the challenges of traditional CPR training is that it does not provide a realistic and immersive environment for learners to practice their skills. Most CPR courses use manikins or videos to simulate the scenarios, but these methods may not prepare the learners for the emotional and physical stress of a real-life situation. Additionally, traditional CPR training may not be accessible or affordable for everyone, especially in low-resource settings.
Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that can offer a novel and innovative way to train CPR. VR can create a three-dimensional and interactive simulation of a real-world scenario, where the learner can see, hear, and feel the environment as if they were there. VR can also provide feedback and guidance to the learner, as well as measure their performance and progress. VR has been shown to improve learning outcomes, retention, motivation, and self-efficacy in various domains .
Several studies have explored the use of VR for CPR training, both for adults and children. For example, Virtual Life Support is a VR module that teaches the basic life support guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council, including how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). PIXO VR is another VR module that provides adult and infant CPR training for corporate first responders, using a virtual overlay over a real-world manikin. Both modules use intuitive and realistic interactions without controllers, and provide accurate measurement and feedback on CPR performance.
Another example is the VR CPR project by upskillvr , which aims to provide accessible and affordable CPR training for everyone. The project uses a smartphone-based VR headset and a custom-made chest compression sensor that connects to the phone via Bluetooth. The sensor detects the depth and frequency of chest compressions, and provides haptic feedback to the user. The VR app guides the user through the steps of CPR, including checking for responsiveness, calling for help, opening the airway, giving rescue breaths, and using an AED. The app also adapts to different scenarios, such as adult or child victim, single or multiple rescuers, and indoor or outdoor location.
The benefits of VR for CPR training are manifold. First, VR can enhance the realism and immersion of the training environment, which can increase the learner’s engagement and emotional involvement. Second, VR can provide personalized and adaptive learning experiences, which can cater to the learner’s needs and preferences. Third, VR can offer more flexibility and convenience for the learner, who can access the training anytime and anywhere. Fourth, VR can reduce the cost and logistical barriers of traditional CPR training, which can increase its accessibility and scalability.
In conclusion, VR is a promising technology that can improve the quality and effectiveness of CPR training, especially for pediatric cases. VR can create a realistic and immersive simulation of a real-life scenario, where the learner can practice their skills and receive feedback. VR can also provide personalized and adaptive learning experiences, as well as more flexibility and convenience for the learner. VR can potentially save more lives by empowering non-medical community members to perform pediatric CPR confidently and correctly.
References
: American Heart Association (2020). Highlights of the 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC [Online]. Available at: https://cpr.heart.org/-/media/cpr-files/cpr-guidelines-files/highlights/hghlghts_2020_ecc_guidelines_english.pdf?la=en&hash=4E54A49F3349D5D7E7C9F0E9A6ABF1F9B8F2A635
: Freina L., Ott M. (2015 – Research Paper Writing Help Service). A Literature Review on Immersive Virtual Reality in Education: State Of The Art And Perspectives. In: Cipolla Ficarra F., Veltman K., Verber D., Cipolla-Ficarra M., Kammueller F. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction: Users and Contexts. HCI 2015 – Research Paper Writing Help Service. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (vol 9171). Springer.
: Virtual Life Support (n.d.). Virtual Reality CPR training [Online]. Available at: https://virtuallifesupport.eu/
: PIXO VR (n.d.). VR CPR Training [Online]. Available at: https://pixovr.com/vr-training-content/cpr-training/
: upskillvr (n.d.). Virtual Reality CPR Training [Online]. Available at: https://upskillvr.com/
