-Original-

Usefulness of Self-Selected Scenarios for Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment Method Using Virtual Reality

Satoshi Harada^1,2, Ryotaro Suga^2,3, Kensuke Suzuki^1,2, Shinnosuke Kitano⁴, Kenji Fujimoto⁵, Kenji Narikawa^1,2, Mayumi Nakazawa^1,2 and Satoo Ogawa^1,2

¹Department of Emergency Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Kanagawa, Japan
²Graduate School of Medical and Health Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Kanagawa, Japan
³Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
⁴Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nippon Medical School Tama Nagayama Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
⁵Yokohama Fire Bureau, Kanagawa, Japan

Background: Repeated triage training is necessary to maintain and improve the accuracy of simple triage and rapid treatment (START), a popular triage method. Virtual reality (VR) may be more effective than conventional training methods. This study aimed to verify the educational usefulness of START using VR originally developed for students.
Methods: A VR was initially developed with a function that allowed students to select the triage procedure and its evaluation. Triage was performed using a simple modified START method, and eight scenarios were developed. The participants included 70 paramedic students classified into VR and live lecture groups. They took a 20-question written test that evaluated their academic ability before the course. After the course, a practical test and a 20-question written test were conducted. The total score of the practical test was 43 points. Triage procedure (1 point), observation and evaluation (1-5 points), and triage categories (1 point) were evaluated in this test.
Results: The VR and live lecture groups consisted of 33 and 29 participants, respectively. No significant differences were observed pre- and post-test. In the practical test, the median (interquartile range) score was 29 (26-32) and 25 (23-29) for the VR and live lecture groups, respectively, with the VR group scoring significantly higher (P=0.03).
Conclusion: Our results confirmed the educational usefulness of selective VR for active learning of START. Therefore, VR combined with live lectures and simulations would be an optimal educational technique.

J Nippon Med Sch 2024; 91: 99-107

Keywords
virtual reality, triage, mass casualty incidents, education, training

Correspondence to
Satoshi Harada, Department of Emergency Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, Nippon Sport Science University, 1221-1 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 227-0033, Japan
satoshi.harada@nittai.ac.jp

Received, August 24, 2023
Accepted, September 15, 2023