Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Virtual vs. Traditional CPR Training: Effects on Stress

ConditionsHeart Rate Variability, Biomarker of StressStress and Anxiety
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-30
SponsorOulu University Hospital

About this trial

This medical education study investigates stress levels among undergraduate medical students during basic life support (BLS) training. It compares traditional face-to-face teaching session with virtual reality (VR) training simulating a resuscitation scenario in a public place. We will measure heart rate, heart rate variability, and self-reported stress to assess acute stress responses. The study also examines physical sensations related to VR, the realism of the virtual environment, and the suitability of VR for BLS training.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

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.

Disqualifiers

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.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Medical education, basic life support training

    Other intervention

    One basic life support training session / participant. Duration of educational session aprox. 30min.

Treatment groups

60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Face-to-face Basic Life Support educational trainingOther 1 intervention
Group B: Basic Life Support training for undergraduate medical students in virtual reality environmentOther 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Stress and Workload Compared Between Two Basic Life Support Training Environments

To determine whether basic life support training in a virtual environment causes more stress and workload than conventional training. Stress will be measured using heart rate variability (HRV), and perceived mental workload will be assessed with validated questionnaires (STAI, NASA-TLX).

Time frame
During training session (approximately 2 hours, including pre/post questionnaires)
2

Stress (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI) questionary

Description: Stress levels assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Range: 20-80. Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater situational anxiety/stress.

Time frame
Immediately after training
3

Physiological Stress (Heart Rate Variability, HRV)

Physiological Stress (Heart Rate Variability, HRV). Continuous three-lead ECG recording using skin-surface electrodes with the Bittium Faros 180 device. Parameters: Standard HRV indices (time-domain: SDNN, RMSSD; frequency domain: LF, HF, LF/HF ratio). Interpretation: Lower HRV (e.g. higher LF/HF ratio) indicates greater physiological stress.

Time frame
During training session (approximately 2 hours/participant)
4

Perceived Workload (NASA Task Load Index)

Questionnaire assessing workload across six dimensions (mental, physical, temporal demand, performance, effort, frustration). Range: 0-100. Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater perceived workload.

Time frame
Immediately after training

Secondary outcomes

1

Evaluation of physical symptoms caused by virtual environment - Simulation Sickness (Simulation Sickness Questionnaire, SSQ)

The SSQ is a validated tool to assess simulator-related adverse effects (e.g., nausea, oculomotor strain, disorientation). Scoring: Items rated and combined into subscales (Nausea, Oculomotor, Disorientation) and a total score. Range: Scores scaled; higher scores indicate greater severity of simulation sickness. Interpretation: Higher total and subscale scores indicate stronger symptoms of simulator sickness.

Time frame
Immediately after training
2

Suitability of virtual environment for Basic life support training - System Usability (System Usability Scale, SUS)

To explore the suitability of a virtual learning environment for resuscitation training. 10-item questionnaire on usability, scored on a 5-point Likert scale and converted to a 0-100 scale. Range: 0-100. Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better usability

Time frame
Immediately after training
3

Simulation Design Quality (Simulation Design Scale, SDS)

20-item questionnaire evaluating simulation design (objectives, support, problem-solving, feedback, fidelity), rated 1-5. Range: 20-100 total. Interpretation: Higher scores indicate stronger agreement that the simulation was well designed.

Time frame
Immediately after training
4

Sense of Presence (Slater-Usoh-Steed Questionnaire)

Questionnaire measuring the feeling of "being there" in a virtual reality environment. Range: 1-7 per item; mean score calculated. Interpretation: Higher scores indicate a stronger sense of presence in VR.

Time frame
Immediately after training

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Oulu University Hospital

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
Apply now