iENDEAVORS: Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Simulations for Nutrition and Dietetics

TY - JOUR

T1 - iENDEAVORS

T2 - Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Simulations for Nutrition and Dietetics

AU - Quick, Virginia

AU - Chamberlin, Barbara

AU - Golem, Devon

AU - Panchal, Pinkin

AU - Phillips, Sylvia Gabriela

AU - Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - Virtual Reality (VR) simulations provide immersive, realistic educational experiences that are increasingly used to enhance teaching and learning in nursing and medicine; however, use in dietetics lags. To fill this gap, four Nutrition Counselor VR simulations were developed collaboratively with the goal of building confidence in dietetic students’ nutrition counseling skills. After formative testing, pilot testing, and refinements, simulations were field tested with 34 dietetic students (91% women; age 25.67 ± 3.79 SD years; 68% White) from four supervised practice programs using a standard protocol administered by trained researchers (N = 5). Students completed a pre-survey, one VR simulation (≥2 times w/varying outcomes), and a post-survey. Online pre- and post-surveys examined changes in nutrition counseling skills, knowledge and self-efficacy, and comfort in using nutrition counseling skills. Paired t-tests revealed significant (p < 0.05) mean differences in nutrition counseling skill self-efficacy (medium effect size, d = 0.46) and comfort in using nutrition counseling skills (large effect size, d = 0.96) between the pre- and post-survey. At post-survey, >75% agreed the simulations helped build their nutrition assessment skills (79%) and counseling skills (88%) and prepared them to work with real patients (97%). Findings suggest the Nutrition Counselor VR simulations provided a realistic and safe learning environment that may be a valuable learning tool for dietetic students.

AB - Virtual Reality (VR) simulations provide immersive, realistic educational experiences that are increasingly used to enhance teaching and learning in nursing and medicine; however, use in dietetics lags. To fill this gap, four Nutrition Counselor VR simulations were developed collaboratively with the goal of building confidence in dietetic students’ nutrition counseling skills. After formative testing, pilot testing, and refinements, simulations were field tested with 34 dietetic students (91% women; age 25.67 ± 3.79 SD years; 68% White) from four supervised practice programs using a standard protocol administered by trained researchers (N = 5). Students completed a pre-survey, one VR simulation (≥2 times w/varying outcomes), and a post-survey. Online pre- and post-surveys examined changes in nutrition counseling skills, knowledge and self-efficacy, and comfort in using nutrition counseling skills. Paired t-tests revealed significant (p < 0.05) mean differences in nutrition counseling skill self-efficacy (medium effect size, d = 0.46) and comfort in using nutrition counseling skills (large effect size, d = 0.96) between the pre- and post-survey. At post-survey, >75% agreed the simulations helped build their nutrition assessment skills (79%) and counseling skills (88%) and prepared them to work with real patients (97%). Findings suggest the Nutrition Counselor VR simulations provided a realistic and safe learning environment that may be a valuable learning tool for dietetic students.

KW - clinical nutrition

KW - dietetic students

KW - dietetics

KW - health education

KW - health professionals

KW - medical nutrition therapy

KW - nutrition

KW - nutrition counseling

KW - simulations

KW - virtual reality

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105017011755

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105017011755#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph22091389

DO - 10.3390/ijerph22091389

M3 - Article

C2 - 41007533

SN - 1661-7827

VL - 22

JO - International journal of environmental research and public health

JF - International journal of environmental research and public health

IS - 9

M1 - 1389

ER -