Standing firm in the storm – How VR can strengthen empathy in healthcare
- jenny75511
- May 13
- 2 min read
When someone in an LSS home becomes anxious. When an elderly person is angry. When time is short and the pace is fast. Caregivers often encounter the most human moments of care while being expected to act calmly, empathetically and professionally.
Some of the most difficult moments in healthcare are also the most human. When emotions run high, caregivers are expected to respond with calm, empathy and professionalism.
But how do we train for that?
What the research shows: VR builds empathy and confidence in care
Traditional training in communication and interpersonal skills typically occurs in classrooms, where participants engage in theory and role-playing exercises. This provides some knowledge, but rarely the emotional anchoring required in real-world situations.
A study from the University of New England had medical students participate in a simulated patient scenario using either a VR headset or streamed video. Both groups showed an increase in empathy levels, but it was the immersive VR experience that created a stronger sense of presence and deeper emotional engagement.
VR technology allows healthcare professionals to step into the care recipient's perspective in a way that traditional methods rarely offer. It's not just about understanding the brain, but feeling with the body.
Other studies, including research from the University of Oxford, show that VR training can promote moral development and empathy in ways that traditional education struggles to match. By enabling an "embodied presence" in a virtual world, healthcare professionals can experience complex situations from the patient's perspective, strengthening their ability to empathize.
How is VR used in healthcare in Swedish municipalities?
In municipalities such as Tranemo and Gävle, ViroteaED is used as a concrete tool to train responses in situations that many people recognize:
A person with dementia who is perceived as aggressive, but is actually afraid.
An anxious elderly person who doesn't want to take their medicine.
A person with cognitive impairment who questions staff decisions.
With VR, healthcare staff can experience challenging situations rather than just reading about them, and then reflect together in a calm setting.
“The VR training was very good because it felt like a real situation. It made it easier to absorb the information.”
– Substitute, Hässleholm Municipality
When technology supports the human
Facing anxiety with confidence requires more than experience, it requires reflection, training and the right tools. With ViroteaED, healthcare professionals are allowed to prepare for healthcare's most challenging encounters in an environment where it is okay to test, feel and learn.
And getting started doesn't have to be complicated:
Book a free demo for your business.
Get a technical start-up online.
Choose themes based on your needs and reflect together in a group.
Because when nurses and other healthcare professionals are in the middle of everyday healthcare, they should feel that they are not alone. Our role is to give them the confidence to do what they do best – connect with people, when it matters most.
With VR as a training environment, we build confidence before the real pressure sets in.
It’s not technology for technology’s sake. It’s technology that makes a difference.
Read more about ViroteaED: https://www.virotea.com/viroteaed
Book a demo today: https://calendly.com/ivan-95/presentation-virotea
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