Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39446479›Full record

ArticleJMIR serious games2024

Exploring Immersive Multimodal Virtual Reality Training, Affective States, and Ecological Validity in Healthy Firefighters: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Joana Oliveira, Joana Aires Dias, Rita Correia, Raquel Pinheiro, Vítor Reis, Daniela Sousa, Daniel Agostinho, Marco Simões, Miguel Castelo-Branco

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR serious games, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Joana Oliveira *Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5202-3624
Joana Aires Dias *Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3499-7622
Rita CorreiaCoimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4013-7138
Raquel PinheiroNational Fire Service School, Sintra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1578-1773
Vítor ReisNational Fire Service School, Sintra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3661-2386
Daniela SousaCoimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3358-8248
Daniel AgostinhoCoimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1503-2948
Marco SimõesCoimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3713-2464
Miguel Castelo-BrancoCoimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4364-6373

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFirefighters face stressful life-threatening events requiring fast decision-making. To better prepare for those situations, training is paramount, but errors in real-life training can be harmful. Virtual reality (VR) simulations provide the desired realism while enabling practice in a secure and controlled environment. Firefighters' affective states are also crucial as they are a higher-risk group.

objectiveTo assess the impact on affective states of 2 simulated immersive experiences in a sample of healthy firefighters (before, during, and after the simulation), we pursued a multivariate approach comprising cognitive performance, situational awareness, depression, anxiety, stress, number of previous adverse events experienced, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity, and emotions. The efficacy and ecological validity of an innovative VR haptic system were also tested, exploring its impact on performance.

methodsIn collaboration with the Portuguese National Fire Service School, we exposed 22 healthy firefighters to 2 immersive scenarios using the FLAIM Trainer VR system (neutral and arousing scenarios) while recording physiological data in a quasi-experimental study. Baseline cognitive performance, depression, anxiety, stress, number of adverse events, and severity of PTSD symptoms were evaluated. Positive and negative affective states were measured before, between, and after each scenario. Situational awareness, sense of presence, ecological validity, engagement, and negative effects resulting from VR immersion were tested.

resultsBaseline positive affect score was high (mean 32.4, SD 7.2) and increased after the VR tasks (partial η

conclusionsWe show that VR is an effective alternative to in-person training as it was considered ecologically valid and engaging while promoting positive emotions, with few negative repercussions. This corroborates the use of VR to test firefighters' performance and situational awareness. Further research is needed to ascertain that firefighters with PTSD symptomatology are not negatively affected by VR. This study favors the use of VR training and provides new insights on its emotional and cognitive impact on the trainee.

Indexed as

ecological validityemotionengagementfirefightermultivariate approachposttraumatic stress disorderPTSDsituational awarenesstrainingvirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID39446479
PMCPMC11544332

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.