The Effect of Virtual Reality Application in Cervical Dilatation and Effacement Teaching on Students' Satisfaction, Self-Confidence and Anxiety Levels

Midwifery education is extremely important in terms of training midwives specialized in mother-child health. Cervical dilation and effacement is one of the subjects that should be learned well in order to manage the birth process well. Dilatation and effacement of the cervix is the enlargement (dilatation) and thinning (effacement) of the cervical opening and cervical canal when labor begins. Cervical dilation and effacement training is a tactile skill practice that requires constant repetition and practice. Therefore, it cannot be learned by observing, effective learning can be achieved by experiencing it repeatedly in pregnant women. Midwifery students gain experience in the teaching process by practicing with simulation training, laboratory studies and clinical applications. When the literature is examined, no study has been found about the virtual reality application related to cervical dilatation and effacement teaching. The study will be an original study as it focuses on the effect of virtual reality application in cervical dilatation and effacement education on students' satisfaction, self-confidence and anxiety levels. The findings of the study will shed light on the literature in terms of determining the effects of virtual reality application on students in cervical dilatation and effacement teaching. In addition, our project will be a pioneering study in terms of the use of virtual reality application in cervical dilatation and effacement teaching. Within the scope of the study, students will be examined in the focus of their satisfaction, self-confidence and anxiety levels. In this respect, the study will increase awareness in terms of revealing the effects of virtual reality application, which is one of the different simulation teaching methods in cervical dilatation and effacement teaching. Students will be examined as part of the study. In this way, students who have not received cervical dilatation and effacement training with virtual reality application before will have the opportunity to evaluate their exposure to this method.