Virtual reality for public health: a study on a VR intervention to enhance occupational injury prevention

• Published in: Journal of public health (Oxford, England) Vol. 45; no. 1; pp. 136 - 144
• Main Authors: Namkoong, Kang, Chen, Junhan, Leach, John, Song, Yongwook, Vincent, Stacy, Byrd, Alex P, Mazur, Joan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 14.03.2023
• Subjects: Accidents, Occupational - prevention & control; Humans; Occupational Injuries - prevention & control; Public Health; Virtual Reality; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy; Agricultural Injury Prevention; Experience of Immersion; Tractor Rollover; Virtual Reality; Occupational Safety
• ISSN: 1741-3842; 1741-3850
• DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab407

Agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations in the USA. Especially, tractor rollover incidents are the leading cause of farming-related injuries or deaths. This study examines the effect of a VR intervention (Virtual Reality Intervention for Safety Education; VRISE) on behavioral intentions for occupational safety and identifies a psychological mechanism that shows how the immersive technology works. VRISE was developed by a multidisciplinary team of agricultural educators, computer scientists and communication specialists. It was designed to provide a virtual environment where users practice tractor operation and try to avoid several rollover hazards. The participants (291 high school students) were recruited at the 2019 National Future Farmers Association Convention & Expo and randomly assigned to one of three conditions: two different types of control groups (Control1: No treatment group and Control2: 2D Screen group) and the treatment group. Findings show that, through the immersive VR experience, the VR intervention enhanced perceived threat of tractor-related accidents which in turn, led to improved behavioral intentions for tractor safety. Findings shed light on the effectiveness of a VR intervention to improve public health outcomes, especially in occupational safety education, where unsafe practices often result in injury and fatality.