Learning by Doing: The Impact of Virtual Reality Scenarios on First Aid Training Effectiveness

Abstract

Limited accessibility, high costs, and potential lack of user engagement can hinder the effectiveness of traditional first-aid training methods. Thailand serves as a case study, where data from 2017–2021 reveals a concerning incidence of emergency illnesses (12,000 per 100,000 people) and a concerning mortality rate (179.6 per 100,000 people). This study investigates the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) technology as a novel and engaging approach to first-aid t raining, s pecifically de signed for Thai speakers. Participants engaged with a VR first aid training game featuring interactive modules on essential equipment, emergency procedures, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with Automated External Defibrillator (AED) u sage. Compared to a control group, participants who trained with the VR First Aid game demonstrated a significant increase in first-aid knowledge (31.00%). Additionally, the VR training method yielded a substantial increase in user satisfaction (42.42%) compared to traditional approaches. These findings highlight V R technology as a promising alternative for first-aid training, potentially offering improved accessibility, engagement, and learning outcomes compared to traditional methods.