EATI Island - A virtual-reality-based elder abuse and neglect educational intervention

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Medical Education
• Social Work

Background:

• Elder abuse and neglect (EA/N) is prevalent, yet mandatory reporting compliance is low.
• Lack of practical training is a significant barrier to effective EA/N identification and reporting.
• In-home service providers require specialized training to address EA/N.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, implement, and evaluate a virtual reality (VR)-based educational intervention for EA/N.
• To enhance nurses' and social workers' ability to recognize and report EA/N.
• To assess the impact of VR training on knowledge, practice, and user satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Developed a two-part VR educational intervention: introductory course and advanced assessment training.
• Advanced training focused on using the QualCare Scale for family caregiving quality assessment.
• Evaluated user satisfaction, knowledge changes, and practice modifications.

Main Results:

• Participants reported high satisfaction with the VR training content and format.
• Significant knowledge gains in EA/N identification were observed.
• Professionals achieved 99% accuracy in mandatory reporting decisions and reported practice changes.

Conclusions:

• The VR-based interdisciplinary training program effectively improved EA/N recognition and reporting.
• The intervention positively impacted clinical practice and knowledge acquisition.
• The program demonstrated feasibility and replicability with minimal implementation barriers.