Building Empathy for Care Workers Through Virtual Reality
Authors: Dew, R., Aldridge, H., Lucas, E., Board, M.
Conference: 37th Global Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International (Lyon, France)
Publication Date: 14/04/2026
Abstract:Background: Dementia education is vital for healthcare professionals and carers, especially in acute hospital settings. With rising numbers of dementia diagnoses worldwide, concerns remain around awareness and care for people with dementia. Simulation technologies including virtual reality (VR) are being increasingly adopted in healthcare education, but limited literature exists on VR simulations based within clinical settings for dementia education. The present study explores a novel co-created VR simulation of a patient with dementia entering an acute admissions unit in hospital, based on real conversations with people with lived experience with dementia or as a carer.
Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data was collected via using the Confidence in Dementia Scale as a pre-/post-intervention tool. 71 healthcare students completed the questionnaire before viewing the VR simulation, with 27 completing it again two weeks post-intervention. Qualitative data was gathered through focus groups with 9 students exploring the influence of learning on placement experiences. Results: Findings indicated improved self-reported confidence with mean scores increasing from pre-intervention (M=3.55) to post-intervention (M=4.04). Thematic analysis highlighted the immersive nature of VR as a key factor in fostering empathy, reflection and engagement identifying three overarching themes: (1) Effectiveness of the VR film as an educational tool, (2) Learner-Centred Considerations when using VR and (3) Impact of Learning on Practice. Conclusion: This research adds to the small but growing literature around using novel methods in healthcare education staff working in hospitals, highlighting the value of healthcare-relevant scenarios in virtual reality. The immersive nature of VR offers a realistic perspective of how a person with dementia experiences being in a busy acute hospital setting, which can lead to greater empathy towards patients and positively influence approaches to care delivery. At the conference we will also be able to share a clip of the VR film we created.
Source: Manual