TY - JOUR
T1 - Virtual Reality Childbirth Education With 360° Videos
AU - Siivola, Marjaana
AU - Tiainen, Eero
AU - Ekholm, Eeva
AU - Leinonen, Teemu
AU - Malmi, Lauri
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - During the pandemic in Finland, most childbirth education (CBE) programs were canceled or transferred online. We aimed to improve the situation by developing a virtual reality (VR) CBE. This article describes the process of developing a VR CBE pilot program and the results from the preliminary user test. To create the VR experience, we used 360° videos as the main content. The program is usable with VR headsets, a computer, tablet, and smartphone. When using the program with a VR headset, the users felt they were in the birthing room; they did not feel motion sickness, nor did they have usability challenges. The users preferred using the program on their own, studying independently with a tablet or mobile device.
AB - During the pandemic in Finland, most childbirth education (CBE) programs were canceled or transferred online. We aimed to improve the situation by developing a virtual reality (VR) CBE. This article describes the process of developing a VR CBE pilot program and the results from the preliminary user test. To create the VR experience, we used 360° videos as the main content. The program is usable with VR headsets, a computer, tablet, and smartphone. When using the program with a VR headset, the users felt they were in the birthing room; they did not feel motion sickness, nor did they have usability challenges. The users preferred using the program on their own, studying independently with a tablet or mobile device.
KW - childbirth education
KW - virtual reality (VR)
KW - 360 video
U2 - 10.1891/JPE-2021-0021
DO - 10.1891/JPE-2021-0021
M3 - Article
SN - 1058-1243
VL - 32
SP - 35
EP - 47
JO - Journal of Perinatal Education
JF - Journal of Perinatal Education
IS - 1
ER -