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Updated: May 25, 2025

Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
Published on: August 29, 2018
Effects of Virtual Reality Versus Narrative Case Study on Empathy and Ageist Attitudes in Prelicensure Nursing
Catherine Quay1, Jane K Dickinson, Kathleen O'Connell
1About the Authors Catherine Quay, EdD, RN, CNE, is program director and associate professor, Elon University School of Nursing, Elon, North Carolina. Jane K. Dickinson, PhD, RN, CDCES, is program director/senior lecturer, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York. Kathleen O'Connell, PhD, RN, FAAN, is professor emerita, Teachers College, Columbia University. The authors acknowledge College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, and Teachers College, Columbia University, for their support. The National League for Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau-Nu Eta chapter provided financial support for this work. For more information, contact Dr. Quay at cathyquay@gmail.com.
Aim:
This study examined the effects of a virtual reality (VR) experience on empathy and attitudes toward older adults in prelicensure nursing students.
Background:
With an aging global population and concerns about age bias in health care and its role in health disparities, nurse educators must develop educational strategies that improve empathy and decrease bias.
Method:
A sample of 61 second-degree, prelicensure nursing students participated in a quasi-experimental, comparison group study. The intervention group participated in a VR experience; the comparison group completed a narrative case study.
Results:
A mixed analysis of variance showed that both groups significantly improved from pretest to posttest for both empathy and attitudes, and there were no differences between the groups.
Conclusion:
The observed findings suggest that both the narrative case study and VR were effective at improving empathy and attitudes.
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