XR, AI and Biofeedback: Technology-Supported Stress Management Training for Healthcare Professionals
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Profile
- Project leadership
- Martin Berger (PHZH), Marion Leu
- Project team
- Thomas Keller (ZHAW), Johannes Blum, Daniel Gremli
- Organisational unit
- F-BW (Bildungswissenschaftliche Forschung)
- Project phase
- Completed (1.8.2024 – 31.7.2026)
- Project type
- Research & development project
- Funding
- Innosuisse
- Participating institutions
- Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften ZHAW; PH Schaffhausen; Careum Verlag; Bandara VR GmbH
Description
A high level of stress is documented among nursing students, which has a negative impact on their health, satisfaction, and ability to remain in the profession. Problematic interactions that place high demands on emotional self-control are considered to be a major stressor. Measures to promote competence in dealing with stress are in demand, but are costly and require intensive support. Digital technologies open up innovative possibilities for motivating, evidence-based and scalable approaches that can reach large target groups at low marginal costs, enable personalised learning and can be easily embedded in curricula. Based on extended reality (XR), generative artificial intelligence (genKI) and biofeedback training, the project aims to develop and evaluate the prototype of a learning environment for basic vocational training which (prospective) skilled workers can use to train emotional self-control in professional interactions independently and sustainably.
The novelty lies in the unique combination of technological (simulation of stressful interactions via XR, and embodied AI chatbots), health-psychological (biofeedback in relaxing XR environments) and vocational didactic (integrated coaching and knowledge transfer) approaches. Through an iterative design process, the prototype and its USP (unique seeling point) will be refined in such a way that the stress management training is specifically tailored to the target group of healthcare professionals. The effectiveness and acceptance of the prototype will be examined and the strategic basis for prototype commercialisation will be developed. With the aim of a broad and sustainable integration of the learning environment into the training of prospective professionals, the quality of training is to be improved, the high stress-related drop-out rate among carers reduced and thus a contribution made against the worsening shortage of skilled workers.