Utilization of virtual reality for operating room fire safety training: a randomized trial

Operating room fires are catastrophic and often preventable. The optimal means to prepare healthcare workers for a fire is unclear. Virtual reality allows for hands-on practice in scenarios that are difficult to replicate in real life. Therefore, we designed an examination of the impact of virtual reality fire safety training. Sixty anesthesiology residents were randomized into three groups. One group underwent standard fire safety training, one group watched a fire safety video, and one group completed a virtual reality-based fire safety module. After an 8-month washout, residents were asked to manage a simulated case of an operating room fire. Participants were graded on their performance, completed a knowledge assessment, and provided feedback about their experiences. In total, 47 residents completed the follow-up assessment. No knowledge gains were seen in any group. Those in the VR group exhibited enhanced skills with fire management as they were more likely to douse the flame within 10 s as compared to both the control (12 (63.2) vs. 2 (13.0), adj p = 0.012) and the video group (12(63.2) vs. 3 (23.0), adj p = 0.043). Self-rated performance in the simulated fire was no different between the groups; however, the self-rated “effectiveness” of training was superior for VR. Utilizing virtual reality-based training for OR fire safety demonstrated enhanced management skills when managing a simulated operating room fire. More work is needed to further elucidate the optimal timing and frequency of training as well as examine the optimal modality for fire safety training.