Virtual Reality Childbirth Education With 360° Videos

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Obstetrics

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional childbirth education (CBE) programs, necessitating innovative solutions.
• Many childbirth education programs were canceled or moved online, potentially reducing their effectiveness and accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a virtual reality (VR) based childbirth education pilot program.
• To assess the usability and user experience of a VR CBE program during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Development of a VR CBE program utilizing 360° videos.
• User testing of the VR program across various devices including VR headsets, computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Main Results:

• Users reported an immersive experience, feeling present in the birthing room when using VR headsets.
• No significant usability challenges or instances of motion sickness were reported by users.
• A strong preference emerged for independent learning using tablets or mobile devices over VR headsets.

Conclusions:

• VR technology offers a viable and immersive platform for delivering childbirth education.
• The developed VR CBE program demonstrates potential for flexible and accessible prenatal education.
• Future iterations should consider optimizing for mobile and tablet-based independent study.