healthcare workers who received training through methods such as a virtual patient or surgery simulations were slightly better able to retain what they learned when compared with people who had used traditional methods such as textbooks, lectures or computer programmes
The foundation’s VR programme seeks to help nurses to contribute towards reaching the plan’s targets. She explains:"We really want to encourage healthcare workers to provide a good service to all young people seeking sexual health care. Being as caring, non-judgmental and supportive as possible, healthcare workers will help them to make good, informed choices about their health."
Although a high proportion of nurses said that if they witnessed behaviour like this, they’d speak to their colleague or supervisor, most workers who took a spin through Sister Vece’s virtual clinic said they were more likely to report bad behaviour after having watched the film.Later this year, the foundation and Makhulu Media will be expanding its programme to 12 000 nurses working in other Western Cape and also Eastern Cape clinics and nursing colleges.
If the foundation’s project works, it could make for friendlier clinics and provide evidence of VR’s potential to not only train healthcare workers but also to shape the way they act.we still don’t know how well VR works to help to change clinicians’ behaviour or whether it is cost-effectiveLihle plays the character of a young woman that a nurse, Sister Vece, belittles in a virtual reality film that is used to change the attitudes of nurses towards young people seeking sexual healthcare.
It’s made Grey — and more than half of the other nurses who’ve watched the film — want to be more sensitive to young people’s sexual health needs.