Enhancing Agitation Management Skills and Empathy in Healthcare Students through Virtual Reality–Based Experiential Learning

Agitation is a common and growing issue in healthcare, especially within psychiatric services. However, many healthcare students report lacking adequate preparation to respond effectively, often due to fear, stigma, and limited real-world practice. Conventional training methods, such as lectures and standard simulations, are not only resource-heavy but also provide few chances for repeated, safe rehearsal. Virtual reality (VR) offers an alternative by enabling immersive, standardised, and repeat