Educational efficacy is a determining factor in increasing the survival rate of patients with cardiac arrest. For this reason, researchers from the Emerging Research Group in Health Education at UIC Barcelona have carried out a study focusing on the role of virtual reality simulation in basic life support training for students at the Sant Cugat campus.

Titled “Efficacy of Virtual Reality Simulation in Teaching Basic Life Support and Its Retention at 6 Months”, the main objective of the paper published in the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health was to evaluate whether training in basic life support performed with virtual reality improves the skills and satisfaction of students with respect to face-to-face training after the course is completed, and the retention of these skills six months later. The results showed that the skills acquired after training were similar in both groups and that retention of these decreased significantly six months later. At the same time, the study also revealed that defibrillation results were better after traditional learning. The project was led by Jordi Castillo and lecturers and researchers from the Nursing Department of the University Encarna Rodríguez, Ricardo Belmonte, Carmen Rodríguez, Alejandro López and Albert Gallart also collaborated.

This is the third consecutive year that Jordi Castillo has received the award granted by the Academy of Medical Sciences and Health of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, highlighting the commitment of the Nursing Department to simulation and innovation in educational methodologies in life support.

Image: ©A Bofill