Real Learning in a Virtual World: A Pilot Study of the Impact of Virtual Reality Training on IPC Knowledge and Confidence

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (11/27/25) Jerry, Michelle S.; García, Vianelly; Greenfield, Andrea S.; et al.

A quasi-experimental study examined the impact of an immersive virtual reality (VR) training module on infection prevention and control (IPC) knowledge and attitudes of healthcare personnel (HCP) while also assessing performance in cleaning and disinfecting portable medical equipment (PME). The study was conducted at two academic medical centers and three long-term care facilities and included 54 HCP in the analysis. Participants completed pre- and post-surveys alongside the VR module, which collected head-mounted display (HMD) data on session duration, task completion, hand hygiene compliance, PME disinfection, and quiz performance. Results showed significant improvements in IPC knowledge and attitudes, with user experience rated highly (50.19/55). HMD data indicated a mean 22-minute session, an average of 2.15 tasks not completed, 2.56 missed hand hygiene opportunities, and a 54% mean PME disinfection rate. Overall, the findings suggest that immersive VR training is effective in enhancing IPC knowledge and attitudes among HCP, while performance data from VR can provide valuable insights for targeted training improvements.

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