title: Simulating geriatric home safety assessments in a three-dimensional virtual world.
abstract: Virtual worlds could offer inexpensive and safe three-dimensional environments in which medical trainees can learn to identify home safety hazards. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of virtual worlds for geriatric home safety assessments and to correlate performance efficiency in hazard identification with spatial ability, self-efficacy, cognitive load, and presence. In this study, 30 medical trainees found the home safety simulation easy to use, and their self-efficacy was improved. Men performed better than women in hazard identification. Presence and spatial ability were correlated significantly with performance. Educators should consider spatial ability and gender differences when implementing virtual world training for geriatric home safety assessments.
authors: Laboratory of E-Learning and Multimedia Research (LEMUR), Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Bruce W. Carter Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida 33125, USA. allen.andrade@va.gov
authors: Allen D
authors: AD
authors: Andrade
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Cifuentes
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Mintzer
authors: Bernard A
authors: BA
authors: Roos
authors: Ramanakumar
authors: R
authors: Anam
authors: Jorge G
authors: JG
authors: Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012449:Safety; D017751:Safety Management; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface