I N T E G R AT I N G W AY S O F K N O W I N G R E S E A R C H & I N N O VAT I O N
V R Te chnolog y B oos t s Empathy in Future Healthcare Profes sional s , UNE Study Finds
The UNE research involved two cohorts of PA students, with one group experiencing the VR lab using HMD devices and the other group utilizing a streamed VR modality due to COVID-19 safety protocols. These labs were completed as part of UNE’s Interdisciplinary Geriatrics Education Program. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to gauge changes in empathy levels, with both groups showing a remarkable increase after completing the VR lab.
Alan Bennett, B.A. (University of New England)
V
irtual reality (VR) technology may be a promising pedagogical tool in enhancing empathy among future healthcare providers, a new study from an interprofessional team of University of New England (UNE) researchers suggests. The recent findings were published in Gerontology & Geriatrics Education in March.
The study found that empathy and understanding were significantly enhanced through both the HMD VR and the streaming VR experiences, the researchers found. “These research findings confirmed that the streaming modality was as effective in increasing students’ feelings of empathy and understanding,” the researchers wrote.
Empathy, recognized as a crucial aspect of patient care, has long been a focal point in medical education. However, finding effective methods to cultivate empathy in healthcare professionals has remained a challenge. The UNE study sought to address this gap by exploring the impact of VRassisted learning models on empathy development.
While the publication focuses on physician assistant students, since 2016, thousands of UNE students have experienced the Alfred Lab from across colleges and disciplines, including osteopathic medicine, allied health, dental medicine, and the liberal arts. The breakthrough holds significant implications for medical education, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resulting article, “Teaching Empathy: Comparison of a Virtual Reality Experience Using Head-Mounted Display Versus Group Streaming,” was written by an interprofessional group of faculty from UNE Library Services, osteopathic medicine, and UNE’s Physician Assistant program. The study focused on comparing the effects of immersive head-mounted display (HMD) VR experiences to streamed VR modalities on empathy levels among Physician Assistant (PA) students. Named the “Alfred Lab,” the VR experience allowed students to inhabit the perspective of a 74-yearold African American man with vision and hearing impairments, providing a unique immersive encounter. The unique educational tool is used across a broad array of health-related professions, programs, and courses, making for a common learning experience across disciplines.
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