An Evaluation of Virtual Reality and Traditional Training in Basic Life Support Training

An experimental and a pretest-posttest control group design method were applied in this regard.

Population and Sample: The population of the research consists of 89 paramedic students studying in the first grade of the Bursa Uludag University First and Emergency Aid Program in the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year.The sample size was determined by means of a power analysis.When the effect size of the difference in knowledge levels between the two groups at 80% power and 5% significance level is taken as 0.70, 34 participants in each group are required, with a total of 68 participants.They were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups.Participants; Being a first-year paramedic student, not having received basic life support training, and voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study were determined as inclusion criteria.

The number of people to be sampled from the universe was determined by power analysis. When the effect size of the difference in knowledge levels between the two groups at 80% power and 5% significance level is taken as 0.70, 34 participants in each group are required, with a total of 68 participants.

Participants will be assigned to the experimental and control groups by randomization. Participants; Being a first-year paramedic student, not having received basic life support training, and voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study were determined as inclusion criteria.

Data Collection Tools Created by researchers; The "Descriptive Information Form" consists of 6 items. (Annex 6-5) "Basic Life Support Information Evaluation Form" was developed by Tank. This form, which consists of 10 multiple-choice questions, adapted according to the Critical Skills Descriptors of the Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automatic External Defibrillator Skills Test published by the American Heart Association; questions their level of knowledge about basic life support application. Each correct answer given by the student in the form will be evaluated as 1 point and the average score will be calculated. Students will be able to get a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 10 points (Appendix 6-5) "Basic Life Support Application Evaluation Form" was developed by Tank , it consists of 20 items. This form is used to evaluate the participant's skill status during BLS practice. In the form containing the application steps, the student's ability to perform the application will be evaluated as 1 point for each correct step, and the average score will be calculated. The participant will be able to get a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 20 points at the end of the evaluation of the 20-item form. (Annex 6-5) Data Analysis: SPSS package program will be used.

Research Flow Process:

Basic Life Support (BLS) Virtual Reality (VR) and Basic Life Support Traditional Education Program Flow Process Steps

1. Pre-Training Evaluation Students randomly assigned to the VR and Classical education group; "Descriptive Information Form" and "Basic Life Support Information Evaluation Form" will be filled.

2. Education

   1. For the classical BLS training group; Traditional BLS VR Training will be held in the classroom environment in the form of lectures for 45 minutes, and the training session will end after watching the video and question and answering. In terms of standardization of the trainings, the trainings will be given by Derya ASLAN HUYAR.
   2. For the VR BLS training group; After the VR presentation in the VR hall, after the explanation of the basic concepts of BLS and the completion of the training on VR BLS scenarios, there will be a question and answer session and the session will be closed. In terms of standardization of the trainings, the trainings will be given by Derya ASLAN HUYAR.

3. Initial Evaluation After Training For practices, students will be divided into groups of 6 to 8 people.

   1. Med-Sim Training simulator will be introduced by the Training Coach and BLS application steps will be demonstrated.
   2. A BLS scenario will be given to the participants in the classical and VR BLS training groups. Then, each participant will perform the application steps on the Med-Sim simulation model. In the meantime, each participant will be evaluated in terms of skills by using the "Basic Life Support Application Evaluation Form" by Derya ASLAN HUYAR and Yeliz ŞAPULU ALAKAN.
   3. Participants in the Classical and VR BLS training groups will fill out the "Basic Life Support Information Evaluation Form" after the training.

4. Second Evaluation After Training One month after the training, just like in the phases applied in the first measurement; BLS scenario will be given to the participants in both classical and BLS training groups. Each participant will be evaluated in terms of skills by Derya ASLAN HUYAR and Yeliz ŞAPULU ALAKAN using the "Basic Life Support Application Evaluation Form" while the participants are doing the application steps on the Med-Sim simulation model.

   One month after the training, the participants in the Classic and VR BLS training groups will fill out the "Basic Life Support Information Evaluation Form" after the training.

5. Third Evaluation After Training Planned steps in other measurements will be followed in the same way. Three months after the training, the participants in the Classical and BLS training groups will be given a BLS scenario and asked to do the application steps on the Med-Sim simulation model. Meanwhile, each participant will be evaluated in terms of skills by using the "Basic Life Support Application Evaluation Form" by Derya ASLAN HUYAR and Yeliz ŞAPULU ALAKAN while the participants are doing the application steps on the Med-Sim simulation model.

Three months after the training, the participants in the Classic and VR BLS training groups will fill out the "Basic Life Support Information Evaluation Form" after the training.