Makiko Yamamoto

Kumamoto University,Japan

Abstract Title:Literature review on infection control education using virtual reality

Biography:

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University Assistant Professor, Nurse, Public Health Nurse, Master of Nursing, Doctor of Nursing. Research focuses on nursing education methods based on self-regulated learning theory and infection control programs for elderly care facilities using virtual reality. This project is supported by JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 24K20279

Research Interest:

In recent years, infection control education using virtual reality (VR) has garnered attention as a useful tool for promoting infection prevention measures. However, the effective methods and outcomes of VR-based infection control education remain unclear. [Objective] This study aims to organize the methods and effects of infection control education utilizing VR and to derive insights for the development of educational programs that promote infection prevention behaviors. [Methods] A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Ichushi-Web, and CiNii with the keywords "VR," "infection control," and "education." Articles that did not focus on infection control education using VR were excluded. The selected articles were analyzed based on author, publication year, region, participants, objectives, research methods, and results. [Results] A total of 115 articles were identified, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria (9 in English and 2 in Japanese). Two studies targeted healthcare professionals (physicians and nurses), one targeted physicians and students, and eight targeted students. The content of VR interventions included activities such as visualizing hand hygiene practices and contamination scenarios, tackling various infection control scenarios in virtual environments, and integrating VR experiences into programs with preparatory tasks or simulation exercises. Reported effects included enhanced knowledge of infection control, improved skills in donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE), and increased awareness of infection control among students. For healthcare professionals, the studies highlighted the recall of appropriate hand hygiene timing and changes in hand hygiene practices as outcomes of VR-based education. [Discussion] VR-based infection control education has been reported to effectively promote knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward infection control. However, most studies focused on students, with limited application in clinical settings. Given the potential of VR-integrated education to motivate infection prevention, further investigation is needed to evaluate its impact on infection prevention behaviors in clinical environments.