A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Nursing Students' Experiences of Empathy in a Virtual Reality Simulation Game : A Descriptive Qualitative Study
Authors: Mattsson Katri, Haavisto Elina, Jumisko-Pyykkö Satu, Koivisto Jaana-Maija
Publisher: Lippincott
Publication year: 2024
Journal: CIN: Computers Informatics Nursing
Journal name in source: Computers, informatics, nursing : CIN
Journal acronym: Comput Inform Nurs
Volume: 42
Issue: 7
First page : 537
Last page: 545
ISSN: 1538-2931
eISSN: 1538-9774
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000001132
Web address : https://journals.lww.com/cinjournal/fulltext/9900/nursing_students__experiences_of_empathy_in_a.184.aspx
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2024052234458
Empathy is significant in nursing, and showing empathy toward a patient positively impacts a patient's health. Learning empathy through immersive simulations is effective. Immersion is an essential factor in virtual reality. This study aimed to describe nursing students' experiences of empathy in a virtual reality simulation game. Data were collected from nursing students (n = 20) from May 2021 to January 2022. Data collection included individual semistructured interviews; before the interviews, the virtual reality gaming procedure was conducted. Inductive content analysis was used. Nursing students experienced compassion and a feeling of concern in the virtual reality simulation game. Students were willing to help the virtual patient, and they recognized the virtual patient's emotions using methods such as listening and imagining. Students felt the need to improve the patient's condition, and they responded to the virtual patient's emotions with the help of nonverbal and verbal communication and helping methods. Empathy is possible to experience by playing virtual reality simulation games, but it demands technique practicing before entering the virtual reality simulation game.
