Effectiveness of a virtual reality-based learning tool simulating a dental clinical setting for infection control education

In clinical dental settings where aerosol-generating procedures are routinely performed, infection prevention and control measures are essential. However, infection prevention and control practices among students for future roles as dental professionals remain insufficient, underscoring the need for effective education. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR) educational tool mimicking a dental clinical setting for infection control education among dental and dental hygiene students before clinical training. This study employed a pre- and post-test comparative study design, and 73 dental and dental hygiene students were invited to participate. The VR learning materials included content simulating infection control procedures performed by dentists and dental hygienists in a dental clinic, as well as questions and explanations related to infection prevention and control utilizing visualized droplet transmission and aerosol transmission using computer graphics. Educational effectiveness was evaluated by assessing changes in scores for self-perceived understanding and knowledge of infection control, as well as usefulness and satisfaction with VR learning. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with rank-biserial correlation (r rb ) calculated as an effect size and reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), Mann–Whitney U test, and Fisher’s exact test. The Holm method was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. Of the 66 dental and dental hygiene students who participated, 62 were analyzed in the study. Self-perceived understanding and knowledge of infection control measures significantly improved after VR learning ( p < 0.01). More than 88% of students reported that VR learning was useful and satisfactory. Self-perceived understanding and knowledge of infection control improved after VR learning and resulted in high levels of perceived usefulness and satisfaction among dental and dental hygiene students in a preclinical setting. However, higher-quality, long-term studies grounded in educational theory are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of VR-based infection control education.