Immersive virtual reality versus standard video-based training for personal protective equipment use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a quasi-experimental study of perceived effectiveness and acceptability

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for rapid and safe training strategies for healthcare professionals, particularly about vital procedures such donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE). Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has emerged as potential alternative to conventional training approaches. To evaluate healthcare professionals’ perceived effectiveness and acceptability of an IVR-based application for training in safe donning and doffing of PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic in hospital and primary care settings. A quasi-experimental post-intervention study with a non-randomized control group and unequal group sizes was conducted in a university hospital and five primary care centers from January to December 2021. Healthcare professionals received either IVR-based training or video-based training. Outcomes were assessed using an ad hoc questionnaire measuring participants’ perceptions of safety and learning, usefulness and performance, satisfaction and experience, and usability. A total of 711 participants were included (644 in IVR group and 67 in video-based training group). Both modalities received favourable ratings (8.0 ± 1.8 to 9.6 ± 1). In the hospital setting, video-based training received significantly higher ratings than IVR in the Safety and Learning dimension (β = -2.6; 95% CI: -4.2 to -1.0) and Satisfaction and Experience (β = -1.9; 95% CI: -3.7 to -0.2), whereas no significant differences were observed in primary care. IVR training showed high levels of usefulness and performance, particularly among younger professionals and nurses. Both modalities were perceived as acceptable for PPE training. While video-based received higher ratings in some domains, IVR demonstrated high usability and acceptability. Findings should be interpreted with caution, as they were based on self-reported perceptions from a non-randomized study.