Virtual Reality simulation training improves health professionals’ knowledge in STEMI critical care

BACKGROUND: In Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG, Italy, 1.2M inhabitants), the STEMI network has been implemented with a regional educational programme since 2018. However, each step leading to a fast-track reperfusion needs specific interactions between critical care teams on the scene and in hospital that theoretical training cannot provide. OBJECTIVES: A new educational tool, based on virtual reality (VR), was developed to train emergency nurses and doctors on the STEMI pathway. Each training session consisted of a VR simulation, dynamically driven by an instructor, where a nurse-doctor pair had to provide first aid to a patient with chest pain. A plenary debriefing followed each session. Before and after the training, all participants filled out a questionnaire on the STEMI pathway (21 multiple-choice items on technical and organizational issues) to evaluate the course theoretical effectiveness. This research is part of the EASY-NET program, co-funded by the Ministry of Health and the participating Regions (NET-2016-02364191). RESULTS: Between Oct ’22 and Jan ’23, 48 nurses and 14 doctors were trained and filled in both pre- and post-training questionnaires. Before the training, the median number of correct answers was 15 (IQR 13-16), after the course it rose to 16 (IQR 15-17, p < 0.0001); doctors performed better than nurses both at pre- (16, IQR 15-17 and 14.5, IQR 12.5-16, respectively; p = 0.017) and post-test (18, IQR 15-18 vs 16, IQR 15-17; p < 0,0001) but both categories significantly improved their scores (p = 0.019 and p = 0.0001). The main improvement was observed for items concerning the Case Manager's actions after ECG, (right answers: 58 post-test vs 45 pre, p = 0.0016), morphine administration, (37 vs 25, p = 0.0073), and therapy in vagal reaction (46 vs 35, p = 0.0116). CONCLUSIONS: An innovative VR simulation training improves the theoretical knowledge of the critical care pathway of STEMI in healthcare teams, which may lead to a better approach to this disease. KEY MESSAGES: • A new Virtual Reality simulation tool is useful for the training of doctors and nurses in patients with STEMI. • Simulation tools based on Virtual Reality can improve health professionals’ theoretical knowledge in critical care pathways.