Virtual Reality-Based Donning and Doffing Simulator

Ensuring healthcare workers properly don and doff personal protective equipment is crucial in preventing the spread of contaminants. This study introduces a virtual reality (VR) simulator to enhance training in donning and doffing, aiming to complement or serve as an alternative to conventional methods. The VR simulation incorporates advanced features such as microfacet bidirectional reflective distribution, full-body avatar animations with inverse kinematics, and cloth simulation with Extended Position-Based Dynamics for increased immersion. Performance tests demonstrate real-time functionality even on low-end setups, with high-end systems consistently supporting 120Hz. A user study with 43 participants reveals that the VR group outperformed the non- VR group by 26.88% in donning and 26.16% in doffing tasks, with statistically significant results. Experienced VR users within the group exhibited notable advantages in various metrics. Overall, participants rated the VR simulation as effective (4.47) and realistic (4.13) on a five-point scale.