Queen Margaret University using VR to train future paramedics

The development is creating a learning opportunity which is helping paramedic students strengthen their decision-making when dealing with emergency maternity scenarios.

The university is "leading" the development of interactive programmes to help its paramedic science students deal with challenging real-life situations, before they enter the workforce.

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The use of VR is proving to be a big hit with students on the BSc Paramedic Science course who are learning to navigate both normal and extreme situations in the safety of a virtual space.

Having developed a bespoke programme for use at the university, its students are the first to experience the pressure of decision-making in VR in relation to maternity complications.

Alexander Williams, a paramedic lecturer at QMU, who has led the development of the VR project with commercial partner Virtual Reality Empathy Platform Ltd (VREP), explained: "It’s not only an exciting way to learn, it’s the perfect training ground for a paramedic student. It helps to improve the learning experience and patient safety. By supporting students through different patient scenarios, we are allowing them to learn at a pace that’s right for them and to build their understanding of different environments that paramedics work in. They also get to feel the stress that can be involved in certain situations, but to experience that in the safety of the virtual classroom."

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He explained: "While VR is now used in some areas of education, this is the first VR programme which focuses on real-time decision-making in relation to maternity complications, rather than just skills development. In this VR experience, the student is the key decision maker in the woman’s care before a hospital admission. They can practice high risk and low-incidence scenarios, so they are best prepared to make the right decision, at the right time, when they face them in real life."

Lisa Fernie, a second year paramedic science student at QMU, trialed the technology with guidance from her lecturer. She said: "I was totally amazed at how immersive and realistic the experience felt. It was so exciting, as I’d never used VR technology before."

Student Bronte Haywood added: "Being in the scenario gave me the feeling of actually being in a patient’s house - needing to be spatially aware, learning to communicate with the patient and being aware of the pressure of what could happen next."

A paramedic student at Queen Margaret University tires out the new VR programme which helps with decision-making. Photo: Malcolm Cochrane Photography

Mr Williams, who worked as a paramedic for five years, has worked with Virtual Reality Empathy Platform, software developer Visual Lane, Age Concern and Age Scotland, as well as IT staff, administrators and health technicians at the University to get the product to the stage it's at now. The team is now keen to further develop the VR packages to provide improved learning experiences for a wider range of health and social care students and professionals.

Having developed and trialed the VR packages over the last year, QMU will be running a range of VR scenarios with students on the BSc Paramedic Science course. Students will be able to experience dealing with a pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, a female with maternal sepsis, a baby with shoulder distortia dystocia (stuck in birth canal) and a woman with postpartum hemorrhaging.

Student Euan Baillie said: "There is no doubt that VR has a significant positive impact on the learning experience at QMU - providing a very unique way to practice and apply skills in a realistic environment that you can’t necessarily practice whilst on placement or in normal classroom settings."