Virtual reality (VR) has been proposed as a promising technology for education since the combination of immersive and interactive features enables experiential learning. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of VR-based training on oral health care for dependency elderly among oral hygiene students.
A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Overall, the study recruited students from third grade of Department of Oral Hygiene students in Kaohsiung Medical University during 2021. The participants were randomly assigned to virtual-reality experimental (EG; n = 11) and control (CG; n = 12) groups. The students in EG received a 2-hour VR training for elderly oral health care at 2-week (Time 2), 4-week (Time 3) and 6-week (Time 4) follow-ups. Each student collected the data by a self-administrated questionnaire before and immediately after each of the intervention. Linear regression in generalized estimating equations (GEE) compare the differences between both groups.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
23
Students simulate the different physical and oral conditions of the elderly through virtual situations and provide suitable oral care methods. The whole training session took approximately two hours for each student; First, students were first given a short introduction to the VR system's use (10 minutes). Second, they were able to carry out oral care for the elderly while wearing VR goggles and using hand-controllers with the teaching and audio guides during the process (90 minutes), and an evaluation was taken after the intervention (20 minutes).
Kaohsiung Medical University
Kaohsiung City, San Min District, Taiwan
Elderly oral care-related knowledge
Twenty items measured elderly oral care-related knowledge; for example, 'There is no need to consider the size of the interdental brush.' Possible responses included True (1), False (0), and I do not know (0), with possible scores ranged from 0 to 20; a higher score indicated a higher degree of oral-care-related knowledge. The KR-20 coefficient was 0.56 for this scale
Time frame: Change from Baseline knowledge at 2-, 4-, 6-week follow-ups after the interventions
Attitude toward elderly oral care
Seven items measured attitude toward elderly oral care, for example, 'Assist disabled elderly to clean their teeth is annoying.' Each item was scored on a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Possible scores ranged from 5 to 35; a higher score indicated a more positive attitude toward oral care for the elderly. Cronbach's alpha was 0.70 for this scale.
Time frame: Change from Baseline attitude at 2-, 4-, 6-week follow-ups after the interventions
Self-efficacy of elderly oral care
Eleven items were used to evaluate the self-efficacy of elderly oral care. Students indicated their degrees of agreement with statements related to perceptions of personal ability concerning oral care for the elderly. For example, 'I am confident to remind disable elderly having regular dental visits every six months.' Each item was scored on a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Possible scores ranged from 5 to 55; a higher score indicated more substantial confidence toward oral care for the elderly. Cronbach's alpha was 0.87 for this scale.
Time frame: Change from Baseline self-efficacy at 2-, 4-, 6-week follow-ups after the interventions
Intention to elderly oral care behaviors
Twelve items were used to evaluate the intention to elderly oral care behavior for elderly. Students indicated their goals of adding new behaviors or modifying existing behaviors of oral care for the elderly. For example, 'I will take the initiative to assist disabled elderly to clean their dentures.' Each item was scored on a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
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Time frame: Change from Baseline intentions at 2-, 4-, 6-week follow-ups after the interventions