Anest. intenziv. Med. 2025;36(4):241-246 | DOI: 10.36290/aim.2025.039

Experiences of HCPs working at ICUs with a virtual reality in postgraduate training - multicentre surveyOriginal Article

Prokopová T.^{1, 2}, Diabelko D.^{2, 3}, Vafková T.^{2, 4}, Klabusayová E.^{2, 3}, Hudec J.^{1, 2}, Štourač P.^{2, 3}

¹ Klinika anesteziologie, resuscitace a intenzivní medicíny, Fakultní nemocnice Brno a Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity v Brně

² Ústav simulační medicíny, Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity v Brně

³ Klinika dětské anesteziologie a resuscitace, Fakultní nemocnice Brno a Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity v Brně

⁴ Klinika komplexní onkologické péče, Masarykův onkologický ústav Brno a Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity v Brně

Objective: The primary goal of this study was to explore the experience of health care professionals (HCPs) working at intensive care units (ICUs) with virtual reality (VR) involvement in postgraduate training. The second goal was to explore the expectations and common concerns associated with the VR-based courses.

Design: Observational online cross-sectional survey.
Setting: ICUs of various types across hospitals in the Czech Republic.

Material and methods: An online questionnaire for HCPs working at ICUs. Methods of descriptive statistics were used for data interpretation.

Results: A total of 114 fully completed questionnaires were collected. VR was previously used in training by 21.6% of respondents and experienced as a demonstration at conferences by 23.2%. More than half (55.2%) had never encountered VR. The majority (87.7%) expressed interest in participating in a VR-based course. Expectation of participation in courses with VR evoked mostly positive emotions. Possible concerns about VR involvement result from the fear of being recorded (12.3% strongly agree, 33.3% agree), being watched by other participants (13.2% strongly agree, 36.8% agree) and retrospective assessment of their performance (9.6% strongly agree, 31.6% agree). Respondents indicated greatest interest in scenarios involving critical events, rare situations, technical skills and communication training.

Conclusion: Despite limited experience with VR in postgraduate training, ICU HCPs showed a high level of interest in such methods. However, VR also raises concerns that must be addressed when designing the learning experience in order to create a safe environment.

Keywords: virtual reality, postgraduate training, intensive care unit, survey.

Received: July 4, 2025; Revised: August 22, 2025; Accepted: September 2, 2025; Prepublished online: October 29, 2025; Published: December 10, 2025  Show citation