Students’ opinions at the Fire University on the use of virtual reality technology in learning qualified first aid procedures

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the opinions of students at the Fire University in Warsaw regarding the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in learning Qualifi ed First Aid procedures, with particular emphasis on training eff ectiveness and comfort of working in the VR environment. Material and methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an online questionnaire between 26-31 October 2024. A total of 132 participants were included. The proprietary questionnaire consisted of demographic questions and items assessing participants’ experiences with VR-based training, using a fi ve-point Likert scale. Results. All respondents rated the usefulness of VR in learning QFA highly (median +2), as well as the quality of simulations and the time-pressure effect during scenario execution. Most participants reported no significant visual discomfort or balance problems, and the physical strain was considered minimal. No statistically significant differences were found between groups based on sex, age or type of study program (p > 0.05). Conclusions. VR technology is highly valued by students. VR-based exercises are well tolerated in terms of physical and visual comfort, and the absence of significant differences between participant groups confirms the universal applicability of this training method. These results support the broader implementation of VR technology into emergency medical education programs.