Augmented Reality Technology to Facilitate Proficiency in Emergency Medical Procedures
Laurel O'Connor, Sepahrad Zamani, Liam Porter, Nicolette Mcgeorge, Susan Latiff, Timothy Boardman, Matthew Loconte, Michael Weiner, Eileen Mcgarry, Felipe Pina, Jorge Acevedo Herman, Andrew Milsten, Martin Reznek, John Broach · Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences · 2023
Background: Augmented reality (AR) conveys an experience during which the user’s real-time environment is enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information; it is being investigated as a solution to enhance medical education and clinical practice. There is little literature on its utility for teaching emergency procedures. Methods: A within-subjects trial was performed comparing traditional training to AR guidance for two emergency procedures. Lay-subjects and emergency medical technicians received video training and AR guidance for performing bag-valve-mask ventilation and needle-decompression. Subjects performed both procedures in a simulation setting after each training modality. Subject performance, acceptability and usability were analyzed. Results: There was no difference in procedural performance between lay or EMT subjects for AR training, and no difference in subject-reported usefulness between the AR and control training. Conclusion: AR mediated guidance for emergency medical procedures is feasible and efficacious. Subject performance after AR training was statistically undistinguishable from a didactic educational modality.