Immersive technology and hand hygiene: scoping review

The use of immersive technology in healthcare education is on the rise, yet its impact on learner engagement, knowledge retention, and specifically in areas like hand hygiene training, remains underexplored. The aim of this scoping review was to summarize the existing studies of immersive technology in hand hygiene training of healthcare providers and health professions students.

A scoping review following the Levac et al. framework was conducted. The literature search was performed in databases PubMed, CINAHL Ultimate, ScienceDirect (Elsevier), Web of Science in addition to Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertation & Theses. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis: Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRIMSA-ScR) guideline was used to report the results. We analysed data using tabular and descriptive summary.

In the final analysis 11 studies from seven countries were included. Most of the studies (n = 10, 90,91%) used virtual reality in hand hygiene training of healthcare providers and health professions students. Most studies have found that immersive technology is useful in teaching hand hygiene (n = 6, 54,55%). There are some theories and concepts that support the teaching of hand hygiene with immersive technology, but most of the research is not supported by them. Theories or concepts were included in two studies (18,18%).

Immersive technology, especially virtual reality, enhances hand hygiene learning and engagement compared to traditional methods. However, most studies lack theoretical support. To advance this field, exploring immersive technology for further research and incorporating relevant theories is encouraged. Additionally, conducting a thorough cost-effectiveness analysis and establishing a robust evaluation framework, encompassing both short-term and long-term outcomes, will be beneficial for a comprehensive understanding of the impact of immersive technology in hand hygiene education.