407 - Increasing Empathy for Children in Dental Students Using Virtual Reality

Purpose: Virtual reality (VR) can be used to introduce the viewpoint of a pediatric dental patient, increasing empathy and improving management in dental students. This study evaluated the effect of VR simulation on the empathy and comfort managing pediatric patients among dental students.

Methods: A VR scenario depicting the point of view of a 4-year-old boy visiting a dentist for the first time was created for the study. Sixty dental students were recruited and the VR intervention was conducted as part of a behavior management seminar. Empathy levels was examined with the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) at Pre-intervention, Post-intervention and Post-clinical time-points. A self-administered questionnaire collected the self-perceived ability, comfort, and impact of the VR intervention.

Results: There was a significant (p=0.004) increase in JSE between Pre-intervention (112.35±9.34) and Post-intervention (117.64±10.03), which returned to baseline at Post-clinical (112.72±10.36). Dental students perceived themselves to be more confident at communicating (6.45±1.64 Vs 5.75±1.71, P=0.011) and interacting (6.63±1.44 Vs 6.00±1.78, P=0.046) with pediatric patients after intervention. All (100%) felt that the VR scenarios helped them better empathize with children. Out of the 53 students who completed the Post-clinical session, 16 (30%) used the VR scenario as a form of revision and were significantly more likely (P < 0.001) to agree that it was helpful at preparing for actual clinical sessions.

Conclusion: VR was effective at improving empathy, self-perceived comfort and ability at managing pediatric patients in dental students. However, the students should be encouraged to revise with the VR scenario to maintain this effect.