The effect of an immersive environment on basic life support quality in trained clinicians

Griffith, Jonny, Thorpe, Mary ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9673-062X and Dobbin, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7508-1683 (2023) The effect of an immersive environment on basic life support quality in trained clinicians. In: British Association for Sport and Exercise Medicine Conference 2023, 5 October 2023 - 6 October 2023, Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, United Kingdom. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Introduction and purpose: With an emergence of new technology being used in medicine and medical teams practicing key skills in immersive environments, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an immersive environment on medical professionals’ ability and experience of giving basic life support. Materials and Methods: Seven medical professionals (minimum qualification of ITMMIF) completed basic life support in an immersive (CAVE; football pitch with audio) and classroom environment. The trials were completed in a randomised order and interspersed by 5 minutes. The basic life support included reacting to a sudden collapse with no signs of life. Outcomes included an observational analysis, quantitative cardiopulmonary resuscitation (QCPR), feeling scale, felt arousal scale, and attentional focus questionnaire. Quantitative data was analysed using standardised mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: In immersion, participants feeling scale score was lower (SMD=-0.490.69, small) and state of arousal was moderately higher (SMD=0.750.77). The results from the attentional focus questionnaire suggested immersion induced higher association (SMD=-0.360.64) and lower distress (SMD=-0.960.83). The immersive environment results in a higher QCRP total score (SMD=0.330.63), suggesting a small beneficial effect. Observational notes revealed a rushed approach and multiple key errors (e.g., delayed application of the AED) when in immersion. Participants expressed the view that the immersion enabled them to “focus on the task at hand” and feel “switched on”, whilst in the classroom, some felt under pressure and as though they were “put under a spotlight”. Conclusion: Our results suggest that an immersive environment alters participants’ feelings towards the scenario, has a small effect of QCPR scores, and is perceived to be beneficial for focusing on an emergency scenario despite resulting in some errors. These findings might have important implication for future training of medical professionals working in sporting environments where visual and audible stimulus is high.