The Effect of Preoperative Patient Preparation Video Shown Through Virtual Reality Goggles on Empathy Levels in Nursing Students

This study was planned to evaluate the effect of a preoperative patient preparation video, shown to nursing students via virtual reality glasses, on the development of empathy skills towards the perioperative process.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Empathy Skills

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Acibadem University

Istanbul, Other, 34752, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

In recent years, virtual reality (VR)-based simulations used to support nursing students in understanding empathy and patient experience have been shown to enhance students' empathy and patient perspective skills. However, evidence regarding the impact of experiencing the preoperative patient preparation process with VR on nursing students' empathy and patient safety-focused perspectives towards the perioperative process is limited. Therefore, examining the effect of VR-based preoperative patient preparation experience on empathy levels in nursing students emerges as a scientific and educational necessity for improving perioperative nursing education and supporting patient-centered and safe care.

The study will be conducted with second-year nursing undergraduate students who will be taking the Surgical Nursing course.

The change in empathy scores at the end of the semester will be compared between students who participated in the VR-based preoperative preparation simulation application and those who did not.

Students will be randomly assigned to groups.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Being enrolled in and attending the Surgical Nursing course at the institution where the research is being conducted, and taking the course for the first time

Exclusion criteria

Having worked or currently working in an operating room.

Treatment and study plan

VR Video

Other

The nursing students in the experimental group 360° pre-operative patient preparation video via VR glasses. The visual content used in the study was recorded with an Insta360 X4 brand 360° action camera. The video includes processes such as identity verification, preoperative evaluation, anesthesia preparation, transfer to the operating room, time-out procedure, etc. The video is 9.5 minutes long.

Primary outcomes

Empathy score

Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline; immediately post-intervention; 12th weeks

Empathy scores will be measured by the Jefferson Empathy Scale - Health Professions Students Form (JSE-HPS): developed to assess the empathic tendencies of health professions students in a clinical context, and will be used as the primary empathy measurement tool in this study. The scale was developed by Hojat et al. to measure the empathic attitudes of health professionals towards patient care and was later adapted for health professions students. The JSE-HPS is a self-report scale consisting of 7-point Likert-type items that reflect both cognitive and affective components of empathy in a clinical relationship context.

20 items 7-point Likert score range: 20-140 higher score = higher empathy

Secondary outcomes

Cognitive and affective empathy measured by the Cognitive and Affective Empathy Scale (CAES)

Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline; immediately post-intervention; 12th weeks

Cognitive and Affective Empathy Scale (CAES): Developed by Reniers et al. in 2011, this scale assesses empathy under two main components: cognitive empathy and affective empathy. QCAE's robust psychometric structure provides a significant advantage for research seeking to examine empathy in detail across its sub-dimensions.

31 items subscales: cognitive & affective empathy higher score = higher empathy

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Acibadem University

Other

Registry information

Acronym: PPP-VR

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: May 7, 2026
Registry last updated: Jul 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed