DIVE (Dementia Inclusion through Virtual Empathy training): a VR training for dementia awareness and empathy in public spaces and wider communities across five European countries
▶Summary
DIVE aims to significantly improve dementia care by enhancing knowledge, empathy, and communication skills among DIVE Champions (frontline healthcare staff, new care companions, and public service...
▶Objectives
DIVE aims to significantly improve dementia care by enhancing knowledge, empathy, and communication skills among DIVE Champions (frontline healthcare staff, new care companions, and public service providers); developing innovative, multilingual VR training; rigorously piloting and validating immersive scenarios; and sustainably embedding these tools into routine practice, reducing stigma and fostering dementia-inclusive communities.
▶Activities
DIVE activities include stakeholder co-design workshops; iterative development of two immersive 360 VR training modules; pilot tests through 20 sessions with 100 DIVE Champions (care companions, healthcare staff, public workers); comprehensive impact evaluation using validated dementia knowledge & attitudes, empathy, and usability assessments; sustainability planning for lasting integration; and extensive dissemination (publications, international conferences, and a high-impact conference).
▶Impact
DIVE will produce: two validated, multilingual, immersive 360 VR training modules; evidence-based improvements in dementia knowledge (≥15% increase), empathy, and practical communication skills among DIVE Champions; clear sustainability guidelines and policy recommendations for partner organizations; significant dissemination outputs (peer-reviewed publications, international conference presentations); and strengthened international networks ensuring broad, sustainable societal impact.