The perceptions and educational needs regarding interprofessional education (IPE) and virtual reality learning among nursing and medical students

Objectives This study aims to identify the perceptions and educational needs of nursing and medical students regarding interprofessional education (IPE) and virtual reality (VR) learning. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a total of 161 participants, including 83 nursing and 78 medical students. The study used instruments to assess general characteristics, perceptions of interprofessional collaboration, readiness for education, and VR learning. Data were collected from September 2023 to January 2024. A total of 161 responses were analyzed using IBM SPSS 29.0, applying descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, and independent t-tests. Results The average score for interprofessional education awareness among nursing and medical students was 56.72, with nursing students scoring significantly higher than medical students (t = 2.685, p = .008). Nursing students also had a higher perception of VR learning compared to medical students (t = 3.167, p < .001). Additionally, 77.8% of all students recognized the need for interprofessional education, with “emergency patient management” and “management of patients with dyspnea” being the most requested topics. Conclusions Nursing and medical students perceive a strong need for interprofessional education, particularly in managing emergency situations. Nursing students, in particular, showed a more positive attitude toward the effectiveness of VR learning, suggesting that VR-based IPE progrram could be beneficial in enhancing competencies for interprofessional collaboration among these students.