Better Experience, Better Performance? Results of a Study on VR Training Effectiveness in Healthcare

Training in virtual reality (VR) is widely considered as promising approach to address the rapidly rising demand for adequately trained healthcare professionals. In this paper, we present an experimental study assessing the experience and learning effects of a VR-based training for healthcare professionals (scenario: preparation of an endotracheal intubation). 41 participants from the field of healthcare and nursing were randomly assigned to an intervention group training in VR and a control group training with traditional printed materials. Subsequently, both groups had to apply their newly acquired skills in a real-world practice environment to objectively assess training effectiveness at high validity. Our results demonstrate the added value of the VR training in terms of trainees' significantly reduced time to solve the task in the real-world environment. Moreover, statistical analysis of experience measures (hedonic and pragmatic user experience, sense of presence, VR-induced symptoms, quality of experience, overall satisfaction) confirms participants' appreciation of the quality of the VR-based training. Surprisingly, however, our results do not indicate a significant link between VR training experience and real-world task performance. We discuss implications of these findings and outline a research agenda to better understand the key factors that influence the effectiveness of VR-based training.