Using 360-Degree Immersive Virtual Reality to Enhance Nurses' Delirium Management Skills - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:

Delirium is an acute mental status change characterized by confusion, fluctuating symptoms, and inattention. It affects 11%-40% of hospitalized elderly patients and over 80% of mechanically ventilated ICU patients. Early detection and intervention are crucial in preventing adverse outcomes. The Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) has been widely adopted in Taiwan for delirium screening. However, nurses' knowledge and skills in delirium assessment remain insufficient.

Objective:

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a spherical video-based virtual reality (SVVR) training system in improving nurses' delirium assessment and management skills.

Methods:

A parallel-group randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Participants (nurses aged 20-65) will be recruited via social media and screened for eligibility. They will be randomly assigned to:

Intervention group: SVVR-based delirium training using a head-mounted display. Control group: Standard video-based training via YouTube. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will measure delirium knowledge, attitudes, assessment skills, learning motivation, and technology acceptance. Quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS (Version 25) with t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square tests. Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis.

Expected Outcome:

This study will determine whether immersive VR training enhances nurses' delirium management skills more effectively than conventional video training.