Effectiveness of the Application of VR Technology in Basic Nursing Education for the Acquisition of Parenting Skills in Japan

Abstract

Background: Through virtual reality (VR) technology, one can be guided through physical actions 
while viewing images that are equivalent to an actual environment. Because VR environments ensure 
safety and provide a repetitive learning environment, educational methods that use VR technology 
are being developed for nursing education.
Purpose: To create a parenting skills program that utilizes VR technology and compare participants’ 
degree of independence in their parenting skills before and after the program.
Methods: The researcher filmed with a digital camera using a 360-degree lens, edited the filmed 
video into a 5-minute program, and created a VR parenting skills program. Participants’ degree of 
parenting independence and subjective evaluation of sickness due to the use of VR were assessed 
before and after the VR parenting skills program.
Results: About a third of the participants had experienced caring for a newborn and had little 
experience bathing them. In FY2021, the VR parenting skills program was improved in FY2020, and 
when comparing before and after the VR parenting skills program, participants’ level of 
independence in their parenting skills increased. Simulator sickness questionnaires scores before 
and after viewing VR did not differ significantly.
Conclusion: After viewing the program, participants’ degree of independence in their nursing skills 
increased. In addition, because VR technology has little effect on the body, we believe this is an 
effective educational method for learning nursing skills.