Abstract: Objective To explore the application of virtual simulation in trauma first aid training for students majoring in clinical medicine. Methods From September 2022 to December 2022, a sample of eighty clerkship students of the 2018 cohort majoring in clinical medicine of Wuhan University were recruited in this study and divided evenly into study group and control group by means of random number table. Forty students in the study group received instruction through the employment of virtual simulation teaching methodology in trauma first aid training, while the rest in control group were trained by traditional teaching program. Subsequently, trainees from both groups were evaluated on knowledge test, clinical practice, and investigated by questionnaire survey. The collected data were analyzed by using t-tests and χ² tests. Results Both theoretical knowledge and skill operation scores of the study group were both higher than those of the control group, with statistically significant difference (92.13±1.42 vs. 85.22±1.92, 94.62±1.96 vs. 90.03±2.05, all P＜0.001). The results of the questionnaire survey revealed a high level of satisfaction among 72.5% (29/40) of trainees in the study group, compared with only 20.0% (8/40) of students in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.001). Conclusions Virtual simulation teaching helps students gain the theoretical knowledge and operational skills of trauma first aid, so as to improve the teaching effect and satisfaction.

Key words: Traumatology, Virtual simulation teaching, First-aid, Clinical probation, Teaching satisfaction