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Updated: Aug 26, 2026
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
ADDIE-guided development and pilot feasibility evaluation of a prototype VR training simulation for suicide
Donna L Schuman1, Micki Washburn1, Regina T Praetorius1
1School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America.
Background:
Suicide risk is disproportionately higher for rural veterans who often lack access to specialty-trained health professionals equipped to deliver effective prevention interventions. Virtual reality offers a scalable training solution to address these gaps. This mixed-methods feasibility study systematically developed and evaluated a prototype virtual reality simulation for a training module in suicide risk identification and lethal means safety counseling during rural veteran home visits.
Methods:
Thirty participants (10 nursing/social work students, 10 health professionals, and 10 rural community members) completed the veteran suicide prevention simulation using Meta Quest 2 headsets. Sense of presence (including negative effects) was assessed with the ITC-Sense of Presence Inventory; additional outcomes included representativeness, acceptability, and cue recall.
Results:
Participants reported high engagement, with moderate spatial presence, and ecological validity, and low negative effects (e.g., nausea). Prominent lethal means cues were highly recalled (firearms: 93.3%; alcohol: 83.3%), while subtler cues (e.g., isolation) were less frequently noted. Most endorsed representational accuracy, with qualitative feedback praising authenticity and suggesting improvements in interactivity and navigation.
Conclusions:
Findings support the preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the VET-SAVR prototype for suicide risk identification and lethal means counseling training. Refinements to navigation, cue salience, and mitigation of negative VR effects are warranted before future efficacy testing.
