A randomized controlled trial investigating experiential virtual reality communication on prudent antibiotic use

Adéla Plechatá; Guido Makransky; Robert Böhm

doi:10.1038/s41746-024-01240-3

A randomized controlled trial investigating experiential virtual reality communication on prudent antibiotic use

NPJ Digit Med. 2024 Sep 12;7(1):244. doi: 10.1038/s41746-024-01240-3.

Authors

Adéla Plechatá¹, Guido Makransky², Robert Böhm^{3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. [email protected].
² Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. [email protected].
⁴ Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. [email protected].
⁵ Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. [email protected].

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat. This randomized controlled trial evaluates the impact of experiential virtual reality (VR) versus information provision via VR or leaflet on prudent antibiotic use. A total of 249 (239 analyzed) participants were randomized into three conditions: VR Information + Experience, VR Information, or Leaflet Information. All participants received AMR information, while those in the VR Information + Experience condition additionally engaged in a game, making treatment decisions for their virtual avatar's infection. Participants in the VR Information + Experience condition showed a significant increase in prudent use intentions from baseline (d = 1.48). This increase was significantly larger compared to the VR Information (d = 0.50) and Leaflet Information (d = 0.79) conditions. The increase in intentions from baseline remained significant at follow-up in the VR Information + Experience condition (d = 1.25). Experiential VR communication shows promise for promoting prudent antibiotics use.