OCULUS study: Virtual reality-based education in daily clinical practice

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Education
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases the risk of stroke and thromboembolic events.
• Effective patient education is crucial for managing AF and preventing complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a three-dimensional (3D) movie in educating patients about AF consequences.
• To assess the impact of a 3D movie on patient understanding of pharmacological stroke prevention in AF.

Main Methods:

• The OCULUS study involved 100 AF patients using a questionnaire-based approach.
• Participants viewed a 3D movie on AF stroke risks via oculus glasses and a smartphone.
• Knowledge assessment occurred immediately post-viewing, at 1 week, and 1 year.

Main Results:

• Patient awareness of stroke as an AF consequence significantly increased from 22% to 83% immediately after viewing (p < 0.0001).
• Knowledge retention remained high at 1 year, with 71.1% recognizing stroke as an AF consequence.
• Understanding of oral anticoagulation's role in stroke prevention improved from 70.2% to over 92% at 1 year (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• A 3D movie is a highly effective tool for patient education on AF.
• This visual medium significantly enhances understanding of AF-related stroke risks.
• 3D movies underscore the importance of oral anticoagulation in AF stroke prevention.