Virtual and Augmented Reality in Basic and Advanced Life Support Training

The use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for life support training is increasing. These technologies provide an immersive experience that supports learning in a safe and controlled environment. This review focuses on the use of AR and VR for emergency care training for health care providers, medical students, and nonprofessionals. In particular, we analyzed (1) serious games, nonimmersive games, both single-player and multiplayer; (2) VR tools ranging from semi-immersive to immersive virtual and mixed reality; and (3) AR applications. All the toolkits have been investigated in terms of application goals (training, assessment, or both), simulated procedures, and skills. The main goal of this work is to summarize and organize the findings of studies coming from multiple research areas in order to make them accessible to all the professionals involved in medical simulation. The analysis of the state-of-the-art technologies reveals that tools and studies related to the multiplayer experience, haptic feedback, and evaluation of user’s manual skills in the foregoing health care-related environments are still limited and require further investigation. Also, there is an additional need to conduct studies aimed at assessing whether AR/VR-based systems are superior or, at the minimum, comparable to traditional training methods

Serious Gaming as an Additional Learning Tool for Medical Education

Computer-based learning methodologies have become more prevalent in the last decade. Web-based serious gaming and virtual patients are novel in medical education, which has the potential to become important tools to improve today's medical students' knowledge and performance. A total of 81 medical students participated in our study. They were either assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group completed a serious game module designed for Basic Life Support education. The control group received a theoretical lecture on the same content. On the next day, both groups received simulation-based hands-on training for BLS using the same criteria. All students were assessed with an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) the following week. There was no difference between the intervention group using a web-based serious game module for BLS and the control group that received a standard theoretical lecture from the faculty. Computer-based interactive serious games seem to present a favourable additional tool for medical education. OSCE results imply, that the use of serious games as a self-learning strategy can be as useful as theoretical lectures; which means that it is saving the time of learners and educators

The Framework of a Life Support Simulation Application

AbstractIn this paper we present the framework of a LIfe Support Simulation Application (LISSA) designed to teach and learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. DLISSA exploits video game technology to link in a single framework computer-based simulations of CPR emergencies with the functionalities of e-learning platforms. DEmergency situations are presented as problems that the learner has to solve in a game mode. Learner actions are registered in a database. DThis information is used to present new problems to the learner in an adaptive learning mode.DLISSA can be used as a substitute or a complement for traditional CPR classroom-based instruction Dor to refresh and improve CPR skill retention over time

Teaching basic life support to the digital generation: randomized trial comparing videoassisted versus practical simulation

• Simulation is a teaching method used to facilitate learning of Basic life support and Defibrillation (BlsD) techniques. This study explored the potential of two ways of teaching BlsD techniques in order to understand which one could be the best between Low- Fidelity Simulation and Moderate-Fidelity Simulation. • A sample (n = 127) of nursing students was selected for this two group pre- post- test conveniently randomized design with 4-month follow up to compare two methods of simulation teaching. • Students were allocated to Low-Fidelity (LF) (n = 64) and Moderate-Fidelity (MF) (n = 63) simulation teaching. Early evaluation immediate post intervention demonstrated an increase of knowledge in each group (LF mean pre test score = 44, immediate post test score = 62.18, MF mean pre test score = 42, immediate post test mean score = 62.18). Post-test 2 (4 months later) showed that there are no significant differences between the two groups in terms of knowledge retention (LF mean score = 65.81, MF mean score = 61.45. p = 0.721). • Despite the limit of small sample size, the study showed that the two teaching methods are equally effective in acquisition and retention of information on BlsD techniques. However the lowfidelity method was more efficient and less resource intensive

Virtual Interactions With Real-agents For Sustainable Natural Resource Management

Common pool resource management systems are complex to manage due to the absence of a clear understanding of the effects of users’ behavioral characteristics. Non-cooperative decision making based on individual rationality (as opposed to group rationality) and a tendency to free ride due to lack of trust and information about other users’ behavior creates externalities and can lead to tragedy of the commons without intervention by a regulator. Nevertheless, even regulatory institutions often fail to sustain natural common pool resources in the absence of clear understanding of the responses of multiple heterogeneous decision makers to different regulation schemes. While modeling can help with our understanding of complex coupled human-natural systems, past research has not been able to realistically simulate these systems for two major limitations: 1) lack of computational capacity and proper mathematical models for solving distributed systems with self-optimizing agents; and 2) lack of enough information about users’ characteristics in common pool resource systems due to absence of reliable monitoring information. Recently, different studies have tried to address the first limitation by developing agent-based models, which can be appropriately handled with today’s computational capacity. While these models are more realistic than the social planner’s models which have been traditionally used in the field, they normally rely on different heuristics for characterizing users’ behavior and incorporating heterogeneity. This work is a step-forward in addressing the second limitation, suggesting an efficient method for collecting information on diverse behavioral characteristics of real agents for incorporation in distributed agent-based models. Gaming in interactive virtual environments is suggested as a reliable method for understanding different variables that promote sustainable resource use through observation of decision making and iii behavior of the resource system beneficiaries under various institutional frameworks and policies. A review of educational or serious games for environmental management was undertaken to determine an appropriate game for collecting information on real-agents and also to investigate the state of environmental management games and their potential as an educational tool. A web-based groundwater sharing simulation game—Irrigania—was selected to analyze the behavior of real agents under different common pool resource management institutions. Participants included graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Central Florida and Lund University. Information was collected on participants’ resource use, behavior and mindset under different institutional settings through observation and discussion with participants. Preliminary use of water resources gaming suggests communication, cooperation, information disclosure, trust, credibility and social learning between beneficiaries as factors promoting a shift towards sustainable resource use. Additionally, Irrigania was determined to be an effective tool for complementing traditional lecture-based teaching of complex concepts related to sustainable natural resource management. The different behavioral groups identified in the study can be used for improved simulation of multi-agent groundwater management systems

In the eye of the beholder:promoting learner-centric design to develop mobile games for learning

Out of the project EMuRgency a game-based learning environment evolved, which trains school children in providing reanimation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The application gets players to act as if they were in a real case of emergency. This paper reports on a formal usability study conducted with two different groups of learners, regular learners and learners with special educational needs (SEN). With the study we compared the two groups of learners with regard to game usability and effectiveness of the intervention. Our intention was to better understand the different needs and requirements to learning materials that game designer need to take into consideration in order to make the learning experience successful for both groups. A total of 89 children played the game simulation. Results showed differences in perception and effectiveness of individual mechanisms for the two groups with regard to usability or switching between tasks and mobile device.This publication was partly financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), regions of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine and the participating institutions under the INTERREG IVa program (EMR.INT4-1.2.-2011-04/070, http://www.emurgency.eu)

Virtual reality and serious gaming in re-engineering clinical teaching: A review of literature of the experiences and perspectives of clinical trainers

Re-engineer clinical teaching through innovative approaches such as virtual reality (VR) and Serious Gaming (SG) may increase patient safety. While several studies have focused on the experiences and perceptions of learners about VR and SG, few have if any have focused on the instructors. We reviewed and appraised published evidence to establish the experiences and intention to adopt VR and SG in clinical teaching. Relevant articles were sourced from five databases (PubMed/Medline, Informit, +A Education, ProQuest-ERIC, and CINHAL-EBSCO host). Experiences of clinical trainers were reported using the technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK) model. The intention to adopt VR and SG was synthesized using the Technology Adoption Model (TAM). Clinical trainers had a positive attitude towards VR and SG. Those with longer professional experience were less likely to adopt VR and SG, while more experienced trainers were more likely to benefit from VR and SG. VR and SG are practical pedagogies for clinical instruction, but training is required for novice users. Cost-benefit analysis of VR and SG as clinical training approaches is needed