Abstract Basic life support (BLS) is crucial to improve cardiac arrest survival. Virtual reality (VR), a core aspect of extended reality, is increasingly utilized for immersive adult BLS training. However, the effectiveness of VR-based training varies significantly due to differences in target populations, implementation strategies, and the specific applications (apps) used. This study assesses how well VR apps for teaching adult BLS adhere to the 2021 adult BLS guidelines. In 2024, a comparative analysis was conducted using VR apps stores and the Google search engine. Three experts evaluated the identified VR apps using various VR headsets and a detailed adult BLS checklist. The findings were analyzed and documented using descriptive statistics. Of 911 identified VR adult BLS apps, 20 (2%) claimed to train adult BLS and were available for analysis. The common shortcomings identified were as follows: inadequate instruction to ensure the safety of the rescuer, the patient, and any bystanders before assisting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients (1/20; 5%), failure to recognize cardiac arrest (4/20; 20%), insufficient guidance on opening the OHCA patient’s airway (3/20; 15%), and improper technique in performing high-quality chest compressions (3/20; 15%). While the majority of VR adult BLS apps included instructions on how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) (17/20; 75%), many demonstrated deficiencies in the correct application of AED pads (11/17; 65%) and highlighted unsafe AED usage practices (3/17; 18%). This comparative analysis underscores the potential importance of evaluation and testing of VR BLS apps to ensure high-quality teaching tools in the domain of life-saving BLS education.
Fijačko et al. (Wed,) studied this question.