Virtual reality as an alternative to early exposure

Abstract

In recent years, universities and other institutions have been training occupational and physical therapists using early exposure. However, since 2020, the coronavirus has made it impossible to conduct early exposure training in Japan. In order to clarify the advantages and challenges of using virtual reality as an alternative to early exposure, a virtual reality facility tour using teaching materials and a questionnaire were conducted. The results showed that virtual reality is an effective method that allows students to feel the facility’s atmosphere, has a high level of student satisfaction, and is not easily affected by time constraints. On the other hand, eye fatigue and motion sickness were observed in some students, which is an issue to be addressed in the future.