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Volume 22
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10.3390/ijerph22091389
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Article

iENDEAVORS: Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Simulations for Nutrition and Dietetics

by
Virginia Quick
1,*,
Barbara Chamberlin
2,
Devon Golem
3,
Pinkin Panchal
1,
Sylvia Gabriela Phillips
4 and
Carol Byrd-Bredbenner
1
1
School of Environmental & Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
2
Innovative Media Research and Extension, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
3
Performance Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate Program, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
4
Dietetic Internship Graduate Program, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(9), 1389; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091389
Submission received: 18 July 2025 / Revised: 28 August 2025 / Accepted: 3 September 2025 / Published: 5 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Innovations for Health Promotion)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) simulations provide immersive, realistic educational experiences that are increasingly used to enhance teaching and learning in nursing and medicine; however, use in dietetics lags. To fill this gap, four Nutrition Counselor VR simulations were developed collaboratively with the goal of building confidence in dietetic students’ nutrition counseling skills. After formative testing, pilot testing, and refinements, simulations were field tested with 34 dietetic students (91% women; age 25.67 ± 3.79 SD years; 68% White) from four supervised practice programs using a standard protocol administered by trained researchers (N = 5). Students completed a pre-survey, one VR simulation (≥2 times w/varying outcomes), and a post-survey. Online pre- and post-surveys examined changes in nutrition counseling skills, knowledge and self-efficacy, and comfort in using nutrition counseling skills. Paired t-tests revealed significant (p < 0.05) mean differences in nutrition counseling skill self-efficacy (medium effect size, d = 0.46) and comfort in using nutrition counseling skills (large effect size, d = 0.96) between the pre- and post-survey. At post-survey, >75% agreed the simulations helped build their nutrition assessment skills (79%) and counseling skills (88%) and prepared them to work with real patients (97%). Findings suggest the Nutrition Counselor VR simulations provided a realistic and safe learning environment that may be a valuable learning tool for dietetic students.
Keywords: virtual reality; dietetics; health education; nutrition; simulations; nutrition counseling; dietetic students; medical nutrition therapy; clinical nutrition; health professionals virtual reality; dietetics; health education; nutrition; simulations; nutrition counseling; dietetic students; medical nutrition therapy; clinical nutrition; health professionals

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Quick, V.; Chamberlin, B.; Golem, D.; Panchal, P.; Phillips, S.G.; Byrd-Bredbenner, C. iENDEAVORS: Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Simulations for Nutrition and Dietetics. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 1389. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091389

AMA Style

Quick V, Chamberlin B, Golem D, Panchal P, Phillips SG, Byrd-Bredbenner C. iENDEAVORS: Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Simulations for Nutrition and Dietetics. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(9):1389. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091389

Chicago/Turabian Style

Quick, Virginia, Barbara Chamberlin, Devon Golem, Pinkin Panchal, Sylvia Gabriela Phillips, and Carol Byrd-Bredbenner. 2025. "iENDEAVORS: Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Simulations for Nutrition and Dietetics" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 9: 1389. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091389

APA Style

Quick, V., Chamberlin, B., Golem, D., Panchal, P., Phillips, S. G., & Byrd-Bredbenner, C. (2025). iENDEAVORS: Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Simulations for Nutrition and Dietetics. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(9), 1389. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091389

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