User Experiences with a Virtual Alcohol Prevention Simulation for Danish Adolescents

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Virtual Reality Applications
• Substance Use Prevention

Background:

• Adolescent alcohol use remains a significant public health concern.
• Developing effective, engaging interventions for alcohol resistance is crucial.
• Virtual Reality (VR) technology offers novel platforms for immersive health education and skill-building.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability and gameplay experience of VR FestLab, a new VR application designed to enhance alcohol resistance skills in Danish adolescents.
• To gather qualitative and quantitative user feedback on the realism and effectiveness of the VR simulation in a real-world context.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining questionnaire data (n=31) and focus group interviews (n=10) with Danish adolescents.
• Quantitative data from the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
• Qualitative data from focus groups were analyzed thematically to explore user perceptions and experiences.

Main Results:

• Quantitative findings revealed positive user experiences with VR FestLab, with all UEQ items receiving favorable responses.
• Qualitative analysis indicated that adolescents perceived the VR simulation as realistic, though group pressure felt less intense than in real life.
• Users generally reported good simulation quality, with only minor technical difficulties encountered by a few participants.

Conclusions:

• VR FestLab demonstrates potential as an innovative tool for adolescent alcohol use prevention programs.
• The positive usability and perceived realism suggest VR simulations can be effective platforms for practicing alcohol resistance skills.
• Further research is warranted to explore the long-term impact and scalability of VR-based interventions for youth substance use prevention.