Interprofessional Immersive Virtual Reality Training on Sepsis Recognition

The implementation of evidence-based care relies on timely recognition of sepsis. Virtual reality (VR) represents a new simulation modality that can evaluate pediatric sepsis situation awareness. METHODS: We evaluated situation awareness through a multiuser immersive VR experience (Fig. 1). A physician/APRN and nurse donned VR headsets to assess and provide initial management for a pediatric patient with sepsis during a team-based clinical simulation scenario. Participants were paused at 3 time points and asked to independently complete open-ended questions, including “what is the most likely cause for the patient’s clinical condition?” We compared experienced providers (nurses with ≥5 years’ experience and critical care or emergency medicine APRNs, fellows, or attendings) and novice providers (nurses with <5 years’ experience and pediatric residents) recognition of sepsis. Odds ratios were calculated for sepsis recognition with group differences assessed via the T test. RESULTS: From January to July of 2021, 144 participants (72 physicians/APRNs and 72 nurses) participated in the experience (Table 1). When assessing for recognition of sepsis at the 2-minute time point, 81% of experienced nurses (N = 48) and 50% of novices (N = 24) recognized sepsis for, on odds ratio (OR) of 4.37 (1.28–14.96), P = 0.019. For physicians/APRNs, 92% of experienced (N = 37) compared to 71% of novices (N = 35) recognized sepsis [OR, 4.61 (0.87–14.97), P = 0.078]. When combined, 85.9% of experienced clinicians (N = 85) and 62.7% of novices (N = 59) recognized sepsis [OR, 3.70 (1.15–9.07), P = 0.004]. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide validity evidence for use of this immersive VR experience for assessment and training; potentially addressing a remaining barrier to improving pediatric sepsis outcomes.