Narcan simulation becomes a (virtual) reality
During OHIO鈥檚 2018 spring semester, Sherleena Buchman, assistant professor in the College of Health Sciences and Professions鈥� School of Nursing, watched as a Narcan simulation she created with a 12-student interprofessional team became reality. Now it has become virtual reality.
The simulation features two college students who enter a dormitory room to find a friend suffering from an opioid overdose. The scene unfolds with the students calling 9-1-1 and ultimately administering Narcan to counteract the overdose.
Over the summer, the simulation was filmed again, this time with the help of Eric Williams in the Scripps College of Communication and the University鈥檚 GRID Lab. With cameras dotting the area, a 360-degree video was produced to immerse a viewer into a virtual reality simulation of the scene.
鈥淯sing virtual reality goggles, the person can turn around and see everything. It鈥檚 really amazing,鈥� said Buchman. 鈥淲hen you look down, you can see them going through the bag looking for Narcan. If you hear a noise, you can turn your head to look in that direction to see what鈥檚 going on. It鈥檚 just like you were physically in the room.鈥�
Buchman said the more real the simulation can be made for the viewer, the more it becomes a part of them and the more they can learn.
The VR simulation is currently not available outside of the GRID Lab as more research is being conducted. Eventually, Buchman plans to have the simulation available on any smartphone.
鈥淚t leaves you with a feeling of 鈥榃ow, I just watched someone overdose and watched them come back,鈥欌€� said Buchman. 鈥淭he reactions viewers gave were interesting and emotional. They showed compassion as we sometimes don鈥檛 consider the side of the actual person who overdosed and the feelings of those that found them.鈥�
Buchman said in addition to educating on the use of Narcan, she wants the simulation to also help alleviate the stigma of addiction.
鈥淚f it were a patient with diabetes, we wouldn鈥檛 say 鈥楯oe the diabetic.鈥� We would say, 鈥楯oe who has diabetes.鈥� We want to educate people through this piloting process. That鈥檚 not Joe the addict, that鈥檚 Joe who has an addiction problem.鈥�
Seeming the simulation come to life in virtual reality has been fulfilling for Buchman.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a pretty amazing journey. I love technology, simulation and education and the students today have grown up with technology in their hands. This is a way we can impact them that鈥檚 familiar,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to think that we can help create something that will help patients and help our community by impacting this generation of students and community members who see this and will be able to carry out these actions on their own.鈥�
While the content of this simulation was designed for laymen, Buchman said there are plans to design another version specifically for nursing students and as a teaching tool.