Piloting an immersive virtual reality 3D self‐management education experience for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study

Aims Diabetes is a condition of global concern that can be mitigated through self‐management education. Virtual reality (VR) technology offers an immersive and interactive approach. It may promote self‐care and access to healthcare information. This study aimed to explore the experiences of adult participants with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes during the piloting of a 3D Automatic Virtual Reality Environment (VR‐CAVE) approach to diabetes education. The study objective was to capture the participants' ideas for the future development of VR technology as a diabetes educational tool. Methods We recruited fifteen adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes and invited them to a short diabetes education module in the VR‐CAVE. Subsequently, we undertook qualitative focus group interviews to elicit and evaluate the participants' experiences of various design elements and their considerations for future development. Results Three categories emerged: ‘Experience of an immersive learning environment for diabetes education’, ‘Comparison with prior diabetes educational experiences’ and ‘Imagined development of the VR‐CAVE technology’. The participants reported a novel experience and a better understanding of the physiology of diabetes. The presence of an avatar felt non‐judgemental. Conclusion Participants are open to using a VR‐CAVE for diabetes education. This study identifies aspects that could be enhanced through an immersive environment. Further research is needed to realise the benefits for the diabetes community and scale‐up the virtual reality resources and technology for different platforms to enable access for individuals and health service organisations.