Enhancing Mass Casualty Triage Through Virtual Reality Simulation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This interventional study aims to investigate whether Virtual Reality (VR) compared to traditional education and training, can enhance the correct triage abilities of nursing students in simulated mass casualty incidents (MCI). The primary research question seeks to answer if VR compared to Standard education supports students' ability to triage correctly in a simulated MCI situation. Additionally, this study aims to address the following secondary questions: Does VR compared to standard education have an effect on the time to triage in a simulated MCI situation? And, does VR compared to Standard education have an effect on theoretical knowledge retention concerning triage in MCI situations? In the interventional group, participants will utilize VR for MCI training and learning, while the control group will undergo standard education, including lectures and paper exercises. The researchers will compare the two groups of nursing students to assess whether VR yields better outcomes in MCI triage education.

Detailed Description
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A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving nursing students from a university in Stockholm, Sweden. The students are randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either VR (intervention) or standard training in triaging during a mass casualty Incident. Both groups of participants will receive the same lecture on disaster events and triage using the same method before undergoing triage training either with VR support or traditional paper-based training. To achieve a power of 0.80 and a p-value of 0.05, a total of 60 participants are required (control n=30, intervention n=30). However, all students (approximately 100) will be invited to participate in the study to avoid excluding those who wish to take part in the study. The primary outcome measure is the students' ability to triage correctly. Secondary outcome measures include knowledge and knowledge retention, as well as the time taken to triage correctly. Knowledge tests will be conducted approximately one week after training and again 3-6 months after completing the training. The knowledge test consists of a questionnaire with 20 multiple-choice questions used in previous studies.

Official Title
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To Evaluate Whether Virtual Reality Compared to Standard Education Improves Nursing Students' Ability to Triage in a Simulated Mass Casualty Incident- a RCT

Conditions
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Learning, Mass Casualty Incident, Triage, Training

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Virtual Reality


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Nursing students registered for a course in disaster medicine/emergency care that is conducted during their fifth semester (out of 6) in the nursing program. Exclusion Criteria: Does not meet inclusion criteria
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Using Virtual Reality for training and learning mass casualty incidents<br>The nursing students use glasses and handcontrollers (High Fidelity Simulation) in the VR scenario for training and learning mass casualty incidents. | Other: Virtual Reality<br>* The nursing students use glasses and handcontrollers (High Fidelity Simulation) in the VR scenario for training and learning mass casualty incidents.<br>* Other names: Training mass casualty incidents;|
| No Intervention: Standard education and training<br>Standard education, including lectures and paper exercises | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of participants performing correct triage | Measuring if VR compared to Standard education has an effect on the frequency of correctly triage | From enrollment, theoretical education and performing training on mass casualty incidents with or without Virtual Reality | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time range on performing correct triage on 10 injured | Measuring if VR compared to Standard education has an effect on the time to triage correctly (10 patients) in a simulated MCI situation | From enrollment, theoretical education and performing training on mass casualty incidents with or without Virtual Reality | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Virtual Reality, Mass casualty incidents, Triage, Learning, Nursing Students