ArticleAntimicrobial resistance and infection control2022
Is virtual reality suitable for hand hygiene training in health care workers? Evaluating an application for acceptability and effectiveness.
Article in Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Improving Hand Hygiene Skills Using Virtual Reality: A Quasi-Experimental Approach
Effectiveness of Immersive and Embodied Enhancement Via "Virtual Reality" on the Sustainability of Hand Hygiene Compliance: School-based RCT With 10-month Follow-up
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 40 citations in OpenAlex.
- The role of extended reality technologies in hygiene education and training: a systematic review of applications, benefits, and challenges.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Immersive and Embodied Enhancement via "Virtual Reality" on the Sustainability of Hand Hygiene Compliance:Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of a School-Based Training Program.JMIR research protocols · 2026Trial
- Enhancing medical education for undergraduates: integrating virtual reality and case-based learning for shoulder joint.BMC medical education · 2024Trial
- Effect of a short virtual reality training on first-attempt hand-disinfection performance in an OSCE: a randomized controlled trial.BMC nursing · 2026Article
- Does Virtual Reality Training Translate into Real-world Infection Prevention and Control Practice? A Systematic Review.Medical science educator · 2026Review
- Improving Hand Hygiene Skills Using Virtual Reality: Quasi-Experimental Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Virtual reality for education on infection prevention and control: the impact on medical students' knowledge, attitudes and practices.Antimicrobial resistance and infection control · 2025Article
- Immersive technology and hand hygiene: scoping review.BMC medical education · 2024Article
- Virtual reality and augmented reality smartphone applications for upskilling care home workers in hand hygiene: a realist multi-site feasibility, usability, acceptability, and efficacy study.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFor effective prevention of nosocomial transmissions continuous training and motivation of health care workers (HCW) are essential to maintain and increase compliance with high rates of hand hygiene. The use of Virtual Reality (VR) seems to be a contemporary and interesting approach for hand hygiene training in HCW. Nevertheless, HCW should be asked for their preferences as intrinsic motivation is essential for compliance with hand hygiene and training success should be evaluated.
methodsA prospective, cross-controlled trial was conducted at two wards in a tertiary care hospital comparing a conventional lecture for hand hygiene to the use of VR. Both interventions were assigned at ward level. Primary outcome was HCW acceptance, which was verified in a third ward, secondary outcomes were hand rub consumption and compliance to indications for hand hygiene as proposed by WHO.
resultsIn summary, 81 trainings were conducted, 48 VR trainings and 33 trainings by lecture. VR training was well accepted by HCW with a mean score in all items from 3.9 to 4.3 (out of 5). While most HCW (69%) would prefer VR teaching rather than a lecture for hand hygiene education, only 4% preferred the traditional lecture. 400 observations of hand hygiene indications were made, 50 before intervention and 50 after each intervention at the three wards. Mean proportion of correct and indication-appropriate performances was 81% before intervention, 87% after VR training (p = 0.12), and 95% after lecture (p = 0.04). Hand rub consumption did not change significantly in any group.
conclusionsDue to the high acceptance of VR technology among healthcare workers, it can be considered an interesting addition to conventional lectures for teaching hand hygiene. However, the hypothesis that VR teaching has a higher impact on hand rub use and hand hygiene compliance than a conventional lecture cannot be confirmed.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.