Integrative review: Virtual disaster training

Abstract

Background: A critical component of disaster preparedness is the training of the healthcare workforce. Because live disaster exercises are expensive and labor intensive, virtual reality simulation may offer a viable solution as a disaster training method. The purpose of this integrative review was to examine the scientific evidence pertaining to the efficacy of virtual reality training in disaster training of healthcare workers. Inclusion criteria were: empiric literature focused on the use of virtual reality simulation (VRS) in disaster training, written in English, peer-reviewed literature and published during the time period of 2005-June, 2012. An exclusion criterion was the use of virtual simulation for modeling the effects of disaster because these articles were not used for immersive training purposes. Methodology:A five-stage process was followed as the methodological strategy for the integrative review. These stages included identification of the problem and purposes, a defined search strategy (method), evaluation and analysis of data and the presentation of findings. A search of diverse databases was performed. These databases include PubMed, the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Healthcare Literature, Education Resources Information Center, Academic Search Complete, Computer Source, and Computer/Applied Science.Results: Principle findings identified three major themes including: descriptions of the participant's VRS experiences, learning results after participation in VRS and an exploration of how knowledge construction occurs in the virtual environment. Eleven research articles were selected for inclusion in the review. Conclusions:The review found there are too few studies investigating the efficacy of VRS and disaster training. Rigorous larger studies with measurement of long-term retention are needed. There is also a need to assess the self-efficacy to act in different types of disasters, and evaluate behavioral determinates such as performance in triage, decontamination, and transport.

The use and application of drama in nursing education — An integrative review of the literature

“…The integrative review method is considered as being the broadest type of research review since it allows inclusion of different methodologies both experimental and non-experimental studies, as well as utilizing data from both theoretical and empirical literature (Whittemore and Knafl, 2005). Several studies investigating learning in nursing education have been conducted using integrative review of the literature guided by the framework of Whittemore and Knafl (Earle et al, 2011;Oh et al, 2012;Farra and Miller, 2013;Pitt et al, 2012).…”

Simulation and Modeling Applications in Global Health Security

“…VR simulation has been shown to be equivalent to live simulation with standardized patients in assessing mass casualty triage skills, including identifying and treating bioterrorism diseases [75,[79][80][81][82] In a dynamic VR learning environment, each victim can be triaged multiple times, first in primary triage and again in a secondary triage area. This enables users to test their knowledge in a wide range of victim scenarios and receive immediate feedback [83].…”

Emergency response teams training in public health crisis: The seriousness of serious games

“…Along with the growing interest for serious games, the number of three-dimensional virtual worlds (3-D virtual worlds) has grown simultaneously; 3-D virtual worlds being the very basis of the gaming platform [3]. Based on the development of the internet, multimedia technologies and high power graphic cards which offer the possibility of creating a three-dimensional representation and realistic interactive environments [4,5], virtual worlds can be described as communication systems in which participants share the same three-dimensional virtual space and can move freely, manipulate objects and communicate via their graphics representations, avatars [6,7].…”

“…After September 11 th 2001, the expression medical disaster emerged and events including a large number of victims were placed highly on the list of public health priorities. Even though these events are still considered as the events of low probability [11], disasters whether caused by natural events, infectious diseases, terrorism or technology [12] occur at a rate of one disaster a day [4]. [16].…”