Integrating Virtual Reality in Physiotherapy Pain Science Education: Can VR enhance the quality of students’ learning experience?

Introduction: Pain science is complex and requires understanding neurophysiological and psychological mechanisms that can be difficult to convey through traditional teaching. Virtual Reality (VR) provides an immersive, interactive environment allowing learners to visualize and experience pain pathways and chronic pain mechanisms. The role of VR within physiotherapy and pain science education (PSE) remains under explored. Study aim: To investigate the effectiveness of Reality Health™: a VR PSE programme as a tool to support physiotherapy education. Methods: This intervention study will evaluate a VR-based pain science education programme BSc Physiotherapy students attending a Dublin university. Quantitative data will be collected pre- and post-intervention to assess knowledge retention (multiple-choice questionnaire), learning satisfaction and self-confidence (Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Questionnaire) (Jeffries & Rizzolo, 2006) and technology acceptance (Technology Acceptance Model) (Davis, 1989). The intervention will consist of guided VR sessions with structured discussions. Qualitative data will be collected via open-ended post-intervention survey questions and analysed using six-stage thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006).