Application of Virtual Reality as a Method of First Aid Training – Results of Survey Research Conducted among the Construction Faculty Students

Abstract

Aim: The survey focused on the assessment of students' knowledge after first aid training carried out using two methods. In order to check the effectiveness and compare both methods, standard training with the use of training phantoms and a BLS and AED course supported by Virtual Reality technology were organized among students. The aim was to test whether virtual reality training would be as effective as standard training with training phantoms. In addition, the study also included collecting students' subjective opinions on the use of VR technology in first aid. During the research, a research hypothesis was put forward, according to which students after standard training with the use of phantoms have more knowledge about cardiopulmonary resuscitation than students after training with the use of virtual reality. Methodology: The method of a survey was used to assess the effectiveness of training. It was attended by 57 students of Civil Engineering, aged 20 to 22. Thanks to the study, the theoretical and practical knowledge of students on first aid was verified and their subjective feelings after training with the use of VR technology were analyzed. Results: The results of the research indicate that the level of knowledge in the field of first aid is higher in students after standard training with the use of training phantoms. In this group, the respondents answered 100% correctly in 7 questions, while the respondents in the group using virtual reality answered only 4 questions correctly in 100%. Students from the first group also showed a greater knowledge of the first aid procedure – they answered correctly in 82%, and the respondents in the second group in 56%. Students from the first group also gave better answers to the questions verifying the knowledge of the principles of proper cardiopulmonary resuscitation – 85% of them answered these questions correctly, while in the second group there were less than half of the correct answers – only 40%. Conclusions: Based on the results of the research and the feelings of the students, it was concluded that training using the VR application without tactile interaction with the dummy is not sufficient. The use of physical phantoms in such training will increase the realism of the simulation and make the virtual environment better perceived by users interacting tactilely with virtual models and experiencing their (physical) properties in a tangible way. Keywords: safety, first aid training, VR, BLS, AED

Keywords

• safety
• first aid training
• vr
• bls
• aed