Integrated Sensory Supported Virtual Reality and Gamified Digital Breastfeeding Education

Breastfeeding is the most ideal form of nutrition that concerns the health of mother and baby. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding should be started within the first hour after birth. Although breastfeeding has many benefits, research shows that breastfeeding rates are not at the desired level. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, success and adaptation become important to increase breastfeeding rates. In order to provide these components related to breastfeeding, breastfeeding education must be given starting from prenatal period. Education methods have taken different forms in line with the developing technology and the needs of the generation. WHO states that information and communication technology is an opportunity to support breastfeeding. Virtual reality and online learning applications also positively affect learning. New teaching methods, which are increasingly used today, make learning easier and can be used easily in virtual environments. Providing learning by doing in a realistic environment is important for successful breastfeeding and gaining breastfeeding skills and competence. In order to gain breastfeeding skills, the mother can experience breastfeeding during pregnancy using virtual reality technology. While breastfeeding skills are gained through virtual reality, information about breastfeeding can be provided through gamified digital training. With the game, the student actively participates in education. Active participation of the student in gamification ensures that knowledge becomes permanent. It is thought that the effect of the integrative sense can be used to facilitate postpartum remembering of these trainings.