Midwifery students' opinions about episiotomy training and using virtual reality: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: The use of simulations and digital technologies in education in the health field is common. Virtual reality technologies, which offer three-dimensional (immersive) simulation environments, have become easily accessible and cost-effective in recent years and this has this has increased this use of this technology in educating students who will work in the health field. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the views of midwifery undergraduate students about the current episiotomy education they received and their expectations when related education is given with virtual reality technology.Participants: Students in their third or fourth year of undergraduate midwifery who have taken prior episiotomy education. Design: The research was carried out as a phenomenological design for qualitative research. Data were collected between December 2022 and January 2023 at a public university in Turkiye, with institutional ethical approval.Methods: Participants were asked open-ended questions to collect qualitative data. Data were analysed using content analysis by MaxQDA.Results: Data were analysed, and four main themes were determined. These main themes consisted of 16 sub -themes, and included midwifery department students' positive and negative opinions about the current episiotomy education and their expectations in cases where the education is carried out using virtual education environments.Conclusions: Although the current episiotomy education has positive aspects, such as suturing ability, it does not give a sense of reality, is not repetitive, and has many negative aspects, such as cost. It was determined that in virtual reality episiotomy education environments, students' expectations are similar to the real birth environ-ment, and they have expectations of simulating risky situations because they think it will be more useful.