Training and Assessing Teamwork in Interprofessional Virtual Reality–Based Simulation Using the TeamSTEPPS Framework: Protocol for Randomized Pre-Post Intervention Study

BackgroundInterprofessional teamwork is essential for patient outcomes in emergency medicine; yet, effective training in this area is scarce. Virtual reality (VR) provides a promising, resource-efficient solution for simulating emergency scenarios and facilitating interprofes...

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Main Authors: Marie Lehmann, Jan Mikulasch, Horst Poimann, Joy Backhaus, Sarah König, Tobias Mühling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-05-01
Series:JMIR Research Protocols
Online Access:https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e68705
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author Marie Lehmann
Jan Mikulasch
Horst Poimann
Joy Backhaus
Sarah König
Tobias Mühling
author_facet Marie Lehmann
Jan Mikulasch
Horst Poimann
Joy Backhaus
Sarah König
Tobias Mühling
author_sort Marie Lehmann
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundInterprofessional teamwork is essential for patient outcomes in emergency medicine; yet, effective training in this area is scarce. Virtual reality (VR) provides a promising, resource-efficient solution for simulating emergency scenarios and facilitating interprofessional collaboration. While VR-based training has shown benefits for medical skill and knowledge acquisition, assessing teamwork within such environments remains a challenge due to the lack of validated measurement tools. Existing teamwork assessment instruments, developed for physical simulations, may not fully apply to VR due to differences in communication modalities, interaction mechanics, and observer perspectives. ObjectiveThis study aims to adapt and validate the TeamSTEPPS framework to assess teamwork in VR-based training. Subsequently, these adapted instruments will enable the investigation of whether interprofessional teamwork can be successfully trained in VR scenarios. MethodsPrior to the study, measurement instruments for subjective (Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire) and objective teamwork quality (Team Performance Observation Tool, TPOT) will be adapted and validated for use in VR scenarios. Validation of the adapted version of the Team Performance Observation Tool includes expert consensus via a modified Delphi method as well as validity and reliability testing using recorded VR teamwork sessions. The study itself is designed as a prospective pre-post study with a planned enrollment of 65 nursing and 65 medical students working in randomly assigned interprofessional teams. On 3 timepoints (day 1, day 8, and day 15), participants engage in a VR scenario simulating 1 out of 3 different emergency medical conditions (esophageal variceal bleeding, exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and atrial fibrillation due to urinary tract infection). As an intervention, a structured training video on successful teamwork according to the TeamSTEPPS concept is shown on day 8 immediately before the second VR scenario. Teamwork is assessed objectively with the adapted version of the Team Performance Observation Tool and subjectively with the adapted Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire. Medical performance will be recorded automatically by the VR software based on the medical measures conducted by the team. ResultsAs of May 2024, a total of 28 interprofessional teams have been enrolled. Data analysis will begin in late 2025. ConclusionsThis study addresses the challenge of adapting teamwork assessment tools to VR environments and may provide insights into the potential of VR-based training for improving interprofessional collaboration in medical education. Future research could include a control group to measure the effects of team training more rigorously or use more enhanced technologies (eg, natural language processing) to capture the full range of teamwork behavior. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/68705
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spelling doaj-art-18f0f5cea54445f8a4407df72aa9e0512025-08-20T03:05:18ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482025-05-0114e6870510.2196/68705Training and Assessing Teamwork in Interprofessional Virtual Reality–Based Simulation Using the TeamSTEPPS Framework: Protocol for Randomized Pre-Post Intervention StudyMarie Lehmannhttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-1393-4139Jan Mikulaschhttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-6419-8417Horst Poimannhttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-5694-9508Joy Backhaushttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-6166-8973Sarah Könighttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4866-9881Tobias Mühlinghttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5660-8005 BackgroundInterprofessional teamwork is essential for patient outcomes in emergency medicine; yet, effective training in this area is scarce. Virtual reality (VR) provides a promising, resource-efficient solution for simulating emergency scenarios and facilitating interprofessional collaboration. While VR-based training has shown benefits for medical skill and knowledge acquisition, assessing teamwork within such environments remains a challenge due to the lack of validated measurement tools. Existing teamwork assessment instruments, developed for physical simulations, may not fully apply to VR due to differences in communication modalities, interaction mechanics, and observer perspectives. ObjectiveThis study aims to adapt and validate the TeamSTEPPS framework to assess teamwork in VR-based training. Subsequently, these adapted instruments will enable the investigation of whether interprofessional teamwork can be successfully trained in VR scenarios. MethodsPrior to the study, measurement instruments for subjective (Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire) and objective teamwork quality (Team Performance Observation Tool, TPOT) will be adapted and validated for use in VR scenarios. Validation of the adapted version of the Team Performance Observation Tool includes expert consensus via a modified Delphi method as well as validity and reliability testing using recorded VR teamwork sessions. The study itself is designed as a prospective pre-post study with a planned enrollment of 65 nursing and 65 medical students working in randomly assigned interprofessional teams. On 3 timepoints (day 1, day 8, and day 15), participants engage in a VR scenario simulating 1 out of 3 different emergency medical conditions (esophageal variceal bleeding, exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and atrial fibrillation due to urinary tract infection). As an intervention, a structured training video on successful teamwork according to the TeamSTEPPS concept is shown on day 8 immediately before the second VR scenario. Teamwork is assessed objectively with the adapted version of the Team Performance Observation Tool and subjectively with the adapted Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire. Medical performance will be recorded automatically by the VR software based on the medical measures conducted by the team. ResultsAs of May 2024, a total of 28 interprofessional teams have been enrolled. Data analysis will begin in late 2025. ConclusionsThis study addresses the challenge of adapting teamwork assessment tools to VR environments and may provide insights into the potential of VR-based training for improving interprofessional collaboration in medical education. Future research could include a control group to measure the effects of team training more rigorously or use more enhanced technologies (eg, natural language processing) to capture the full range of teamwork behavior. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/68705https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e68705
spellingShingle Marie Lehmann
Jan Mikulasch
Horst Poimann
Joy Backhaus
Sarah König
Tobias Mühling
Training and Assessing Teamwork in Interprofessional Virtual Reality–Based Simulation Using the TeamSTEPPS Framework: Protocol for Randomized Pre-Post Intervention Study
JMIR Research Protocols
title Training and Assessing Teamwork in Interprofessional Virtual Reality–Based Simulation Using the TeamSTEPPS Framework: Protocol for Randomized Pre-Post Intervention Study
title_full Training and Assessing Teamwork in Interprofessional Virtual Reality–Based Simulation Using the TeamSTEPPS Framework: Protocol for Randomized Pre-Post Intervention Study
title_fullStr Training and Assessing Teamwork in Interprofessional Virtual Reality–Based Simulation Using the TeamSTEPPS Framework: Protocol for Randomized Pre-Post Intervention Study
title_full_unstemmed Training and Assessing Teamwork in Interprofessional Virtual Reality–Based Simulation Using the TeamSTEPPS Framework: Protocol for Randomized Pre-Post Intervention Study
title_short Training and Assessing Teamwork in Interprofessional Virtual Reality–Based Simulation Using the TeamSTEPPS Framework: Protocol for Randomized Pre-Post Intervention Study
title_sort training and assessing teamwork in interprofessional virtual reality based simulation using the teamstepps framework protocol for randomized pre post intervention study
url https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e68705
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