Mixed Reality-Based Versus Nurse Practitioner-Delivered Wound Care Education in the Emergency Department: A...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Immersive Technologies
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Evidence for virtual reality (VR) in emergency department (ED) patient education is limited.
• Immersive technologies are being explored for patient education.
• VR and related technologies show potential for healthcare applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of mixed reality (MR)-based wound care education.
• To compare MR education with conventional nurse practitioner-delivered education in the ED.
• To assess patient knowledge, comprehension, satisfaction, and confidence.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, single-center randomized study.
• Emergency department patients with traumatic wounds and caregivers were randomized.
• Participants received MR education (Meta Quest 3) or conventional education.
• Pretest and posttest knowledge scores and self-reported outcomes were compared.

Main Results:

• 293 participants analyzed (147 control, 146 MR).
• Significant knowledge improvement from pretest to posttest in both groups (P < .001).
• No significant difference in median score change between MR and control groups (P = .06).
• Participant-reported comprehension, satisfaction, and confidence were similar between groups (P > .05).

Conclusions:

• MR-based wound care education significantly improved short-term knowledge.
• Outcomes were comparable to conventional health care professional-delivered education.
• MR is a feasible adjunctive tool for standardized ED wound care education, but not superior.