The Design and Evaluation of an AR-based Adaptive Triage Training for Emergency Responders

Abstract

Emergency responders often lack adequate training for mass casualty incidents due to cost and accessibility challenges, leading to poor coordination and fatalities. Extended Reality (XR) technologies offer accessible, cost-effective, and customizable training scenarios. However, their adoption is slow due to the lack of personalized, high-quality training integrating XR into emergency response scenarios. We have developed an adaptive training framework for AR applications like SALT triage to practice triaging skills with virtual patients in XR through spatial learning tasks, providing a personalized learning experience. This framework leverages user learning performance data, enhancing context and interaction-based learning experiences. Our evaluation with 15 public safety personnel shows higher knowledge retention, improved skills, and positive response toward adaptation. This suggests our adaptive training framework enhances the learning experience for emergency responders, improving skills and performance in real-world emergencies.