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Virtual reality education on myalgic encephalomyelitis for medical students and healthcare professionals: a pilot study

  • 0School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Bmc Medical Education +

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September 17, 2024

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September 17, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study shows that immersive virtual reality (VR) education significantly improves healthcare professionals' knowledge and empathy for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). VR offers a promising tool to address knowledge gaps in ME/CFS care.

Area Of Science

  • Medical Education
  • Health Informatics
  • Patient Experience

Background

  • Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex condition impacting quality of life.
  • A significant knowledge gap exists within healthcare regarding ME/CFS.
  • Immersive virtual reality (VR) has shown potential in healthcare education for increasing knowledge and empathy.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate the impact of an immersive VR educational experience on healthcare professionals' knowledge of ME/CFS.
  • To assess the effect of VR on empathy towards individuals with ME/CFS.
  • To explore VR as a novel educational tool in healthcare settings.

Main Methods

  • A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design was utilized.
  • Participants (28 medical students, 15 healthcare professionals) engaged in a short immersive VR experience detailing patient stories.
  • Knowledge and empathy were measured before and after the VR intervention.

Main Results

  • Statistically significant increases in both ME/CFS knowledge (p < .001, d = 0.74) and empathy (p < .001, d = 1.56) were observed post-VR.
  • The effect size for empathy was large, while the effect size for knowledge was medium.
  • No significant difference in baseline ME/CFS knowledge was found between medical students and healthcare professionals.

Conclusions

  • The study demonstrates the potential of immersive VR as an effective educational tool for ME/CFS.
  • VR intervention led to significant improvements in knowledge and empathy, suggesting it can help bridge existing healthcare knowledge gaps.
  • Future research with larger sample sizes and control groups is recommended to further validate these findings and explore long-term retention.

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