Virtual vs. Traditional CPR Training: Effects on Stress

NCT07147322 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 162/2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Heart Rate Variability, Biomarker of Stress; Stress and Anxiety

Keywords

heart rate variability; perceived mental workload; Virtual reality; Medical education; Basic life support

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• 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).

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

• 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.

  Immediately after training

• 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.

  During training session (approximately 2 hours/participant)

• 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.

  Immediately after training

Secondary Outcomes (4)

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

  Immediately after training

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

  Immediately after training

• Simulation Design Quality (Simulation Design Scale, SDS)

  Immediately after training

• Sense of Presence (Slater-Usoh-Steed Questionnaire)

  Immediately after training

Study Arms (2)

Face-to-face Basic Life Support educational training

OTHER

Traditional face-to-face Basic Life Support training for undergraduate medical students. Education based on European resuscitation council guidelines. Education period includes info and session lasting aprox. 30min/participant.

Other: Medical education, basic life support training

Basic Life Support training for undergraduate medical students in virtual reality environment

OTHER

Basic Life Support training for undergraduate medical students in virtual reality environment. Education based on European resuscitation council guidelines. Education period includes info and session lasting aprox. 30min/participant.

Other: Medical education, basic life support training

Interventions

Medical education, basic life support training OTHER

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

Also known as: face to face basic life support training, basic life support training in virtual reality environment

Basic Life Support training for undergraduate medical students in virtual reality environment; Face-to-face Basic Life Support educational training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oulu University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Knoppi - Clinical Skills Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu

Oulu, North Ostrobothnia, 90220, Finland

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

• Arthur, T., Loveland-Perkins, T., Williams, C. et al. Examining the validity and fidelity of a virtual reality simulator for basic life support training. BMC Digit Health 2023. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44247-023-00016-1

  BACKGROUND

• Barbadoro P, Brunzini A, Dolcini J, Formenti L, Luciani A, Messi D, Papetti A, Ponzio E, Germani M; Starlab Working Collaborative Group; Adrario E. Stress responses in high-fidelity simulation and standard simulation training among medical students. BMC Med Educ. 2023 Feb 17;23(1):116. doi: 10.1186/s12909-023-04101-x.

  PMID: 36797725 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Pasi M Lehto

  Research group of Anaesthesiology, Medical Research Unit of Translational Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Pasi M Lehto

CONTACT

+358414341480; pasi.lehto@oulu.fi

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Medical doctor, Clinical lecturer

Model Details: Participants will assigned to receive basic life support education either face to face (traditional) or in virtual reality environment.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 12, 2025
• First Posted: August 29, 2025
• Study Start: August 13, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Last Updated: August 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FI (1)