EXPLORING THE ASSOCIATION OF VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCES AND CYBERSICKNESS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS: A COMPARISON OF STUDENTS FROM PAKISTAN AND CHINA

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to find out differential effect and use of virtual environments on cybersickness among medical students. The population of this study was made in multinational context including Pakistan ad China’s medical university students. Out of them, 200 students 150 from Pakistan, and 60 from China were selected by multistage purpose and convenient sampling technique This study was quantitative in nature and survey research design is used in this study. Standardized tools were adopted for the study, which were tri-facet validated both by expert opinion and statistically by Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach Alpha. Data was analysed using frequency distribution, t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). SPSS and Smart PLS-4 were used for the data analysis. Results of the study showed that virtual reality (immersive VR, non- immersive-VR) had significant effect on cybersickness. The intensity of immersive virtual environment experiences to effect individual is greater than non-immersive environment experiences because it involves headsets that completely surrounds visual system of body. This study may help the medical professionals in developing coping mechanisms for cybersickness. In order to enhance the quality of medical education, this study may assist in identifying various technologies and equipment that have been adopted to increase student learning, engagement, and assessment.