Virtual vs. Traditional CPR Training: Effects on Stress

Cardiac arrest is a major cause of mortality, with survival depending heavily on timely and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Basic life support (BLS) training teaches recognition of cardiac arrest, calling for help, providing chest compressions and ventilations, and using an automated external defibrillator (AED). For healthcare students, regular BLS training is essential but often limited by time, resources, and staff availability. Simulation-based training provides safe practice opportunities, but traditional methods can be resource-intensive.

Virtual reality (VR) offers an alternative, enabling immersive, interactive training with lower resource requirements. VR can simulate realistic resuscitation scenarios in varied environments, potentially increasing engagement, situational awareness, and learning outcomes. However, VR may also induce physical symptoms such as nausea or dizziness, and its effectiveness compared with conventional training remains under investigation.

This pilot study compares conventional face-to-face BLS training with VR-based training delivered via head-mounted displays simulating a public cardiac arrest. The primary objective is to evaluate stress responses between the two methods, measured physiologically by heart rate variability (HRV) and psychologically by validated stress and workload questionnaires. Secondary objectives are to assess VR-related physical symptoms, the perceived realism and usability of the VR environment, and its suitability as a BLS teaching method.

The VR environment replicates a public setting with bystanders and distractions. Compressions are performed on a manikin mapped to a virtual patient, with real-time feedback on depth and rate. A virtual AED is integrated into the simulation.

Sixty first- or second-year medical students will be randomized to VR-based or conventional manikin-based BLS training (30 per group). Exclusion criteria include pregnancy, prior healthcare experience, and BLS training within the past six months. Previous VR experience will be recorded.

Physiological stress will be recorded using a three-lead surface ECG (Bittium Faros 180, Finland), providing continuous heart rate and HRV data. Approximately three hours of data will be collected, including baseline rest, training, and post-session recovery.

Participants will complete pre- and post-session questionnaires (STAI (state anxiety; NASA-TLX (task load); System Usability Scale (SUS); Simulation Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ); Simulation Design Scale (SDS): Credibility/Presence measures) All surveys will be completed electronically. A standard debrief follows each session.

The study is approved by the regional ethics committee and conducted under GDPR and the Declaration of Helsinki. Participation is voluntary with informed consent. VR may cause mild symptoms such as nausea or dizziness; sessions will be stopped if symptoms become limiting. Data are pseudonymized and securely stored.

Inclusion criteria

• Volunteers (18-30 years old) will be recruited from first- and second-year medical students
• Participants must be healthy young individuals with no known heart disease, normal physical performance capacity, and no current physical limitations that would affect the ability to perform chest compressions.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant individuals will not be included
• Individuals with previous healthcare experience will not be included.
• Participants must not have received basic life support training within the past six months.