The Effectiveness and Usability of an Immersive Virtual-Reality (IVR) Imminent Birth Program

This pilot study aims to examine the effectiveness and usability of conducting the Imminent Birth (IB) Program with immersive virtual reality (IVR). We are comparing the outcomes from the IVR version of the program to those from the traditional face-to-face version of the program. 1. Online pre-reading - The existing Imminent Birth Program has an online, evidence based course for participants to access for pre-reading prior to attending a face to face workshop. The reading consists of four modules: 1. Promoting Normal Birth; 2. Rural and Remote Practice; 3. Labour and Birth; and 4. When Problems Arise. These modules provide a review of normal female anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, the birthing process, recognising deviations from normal and appropriate referral pathways. The pre-reading material is available via the iLearn platform and accessible through Queensland Health to all students on placement. The modules include readings, short videos and quizzes to assess learning. The student participants will complete the online component over a four hour period prior to the simulation scenarios. A variation has been made from the existing Imminent Birth program in order to deliver the RCT in a single day format. Therefore, whereas the existing IB program involves a content review to bridge the gap in time between the pre reading and the simulation workshops, this is not applicable as pre-reading is completed immediately prior to simulation. 2. Practice scenarios - The Imminent Birth Program includes simulation of a low risk vaginal birth, enabling each student to have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills required to assist with a normal birth. The simulation activity aims to elicit skills including summoning appropriate help, assessing the stage of labour, supporting a woman during labour, and assessing the baby after birth to determine the need for resuscitation. Following the scenario there is an opportunity to debrief and check performance against a checklist. Half of the nursing students will be randomised to one low fidelity simulation scenario (the control group) and the other half to one immersive virtual reality simulation scenario (the intervention group). The students will be able to repeat the simulations activities several times within the allocated ninety minutes. For the intervention group, the virtual reality headsets will be outfitted with Oculus Quest All-In-One systems, which provides the participant a physically and visually immersive virtual environment via two 1440 x 1600 pixel screens. It has two wireless controllers to allow for an intuitive way to interact with the environment. With Oculus’s partnership with Unity we can import 3D models that interact with the controllers and allow us to customise the object in the environment for each individual scenario. 3. Who and their expertise - The online reading will be supervised by registered nurses and midwives; The face to face simulation will be conducted by registered midwives; The immersive virtual reality will be supervised by IT support, the observing research team and registered nurses. 4. Location - One day workshops will be held at locations in Brisbane and Toowoomba.