--- title: "Insights: de-escalation training evidence, rules and demand" description: "What a controlled VR trial found, what US rules and Australian codes ask of training, and where interest in AI roleplay training is rising." canonical: https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights --- [Insights](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights) # Insights for training and safety leaders What the evidence, the rules and buyer demand say about de-escalation training, and what to do with it. Research and analysis by [Kim Loza](https://linkedin.com/in/kimberlyloza), Head of Product at People Tech Revolution Every piece carries its version, its publication date and the date its data was gathered, and can be cited. [Connect with Kim on LinkedIn ↗](https://linkedin.com/in/kimberlyloza) Evidence ## VR practice changed how nursing leaders respond to bias, and the change lasted In a Mayo Clinic trial with a control group, leaders who rehearsed in VR gained in empathy and in speaking up for a colleague, and were still ahead when measured again months later. Ask any training provider for that kind of comparison. [Read what the trial found](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights/vr-empathy-training-study). [The trial, in detail. Who took part, what they practised, what changed.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights/vr-empathy-training-study) [Both Mayo Clinic papers. The training module and the controlled trial behind it.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/research-evidence/vr-nursing-leaders-mayo-clinic) [Does VR training work? Every controlled study we cite, summarised.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/does-vr-training-work) The rules ## US workplace violence rules agree: practise, debrief, keep a record The [Joint Commission](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/joint-commission-workplace-violence), [California](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/california-sb-553-training), [Nevada](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/nevada-workplace-violence-training) and [Washington](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/washington-violence-prevention-training) each ask staff to practise with colleagues, debrief the practice and keep a record. One program built around those three meets all four. [The four rules, side by side. Where they agree, and where each goes further.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights/four-regulators-one-method) [Training records. What an assessor asks to see, and for how long.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/workplace-violence-training-records) [Every US rule. Federal, accreditor and state requirements, state by state.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/workplace-violence-training-united-states) Australia ## Training only counts as a control if it changes behaviour The NSW [Healthcare and social assistance industry Code of Practice](https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/1400027/Healthcare-and-social-assistance-industry-COP.pdf) ranks training among the least effective controls, because it relies on people. Rehearsal that staff repeat, with a record of each attempt, is how training earns its place. [Occupational violence rules. What each state asks of employers.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/occupational-violence-australia) [Psychosocial hazards. Aggression at work, and the duty to control it.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/psychosocial-hazards) [OVA training. Occupational violence and aggression, practised in VR.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/occupational-violence-aggression-training) Delivery ## Role-play needs a second person. VR and AI take that constraint away Classroom role-play needs an actor, a room and a facilitator free at the same time. In a headset or with an AI practice partner, staff rehearse between shifts, and each attempt leaves a record. [VR de-escalation training. The difficult moment, rehearsed in a headset.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/vr-de-escalation-training) [AI roleplay. A practice partner on a laptop or phone.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/ai/ai-roleplay-practice) [Facilitated sessions. Rehearsal followed by a debrief with a facilitator.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/immersive-training-roleplay) Demand ## Interest in AI roleplay training is rising in Australia and the United States In a year of [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%2012-m&q=de-escalation%20training), AI roleplay rose in both countries by the widest margin of any term we tracked, and every Australian term for this training rose. Teams are looking for practice they can run without a headset in the room. [The search data. Each term, each country, over twelve months.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights/search-demand-split-two-markets) [How AI roleplay works. Practising hard conversations with an AI partner.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/ai/ai-training-roleplay) [Hospital training. De-escalation and occupational violence training for hospitals.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/healthcare-medical) Worldwide ## New Zealand gives de-escalation training the biggest share of its searching In a year of Google Trends country data, New Zealand scored 100 for de-escalation training, ahead of South Korea, the United States and Canada at 44. Occupational violence stays Australian vocabulary, and AI roleplay is searched worldwide. [See every country](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights/de-escalation-training-search-worldwide). [The worldwide view. Which country gives each term the biggest share of its searching.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights/de-escalation-training-search-worldwide) [De-escalation for healthcare. The conversations hospital staff rehearse most.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/de-escalation-training-healthcare) [Customer aggression. The raised voice at the counter, rehearsed before it happens.](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/customer-aggression-training) Planning training for difficult conversations? [Open the contact form](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights#contact) Ask Simon’s Digital Twin a question - [Research and evidence](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/research-evidence) - [Mater case study](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/case-studies/mater-speaking-with-good-judgement) - [School de-escalation training](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/school-de-escalation-training) - [Customer aggression training](https://peopletechrevolution.com/xr/customer-aggression-training)