Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

This project develops an interactive virtual-reality (VR) simulation to help nursing students learn how to provide compassionate and culturally respectful care for patients at the end of life. Traditional lectures rarely prepare learners for the complex mix of family roles, rituals, and beliefs that shape real-world palliative care. Our system offers a safe, realistic environment where students can practice communication and empathy skills in culturally diverse situations. The simulation focuses on Hindu palliative care, where family participation and spiritual rituals are central. Learners act as nurses caring for a dying patient and relatives, balancing hospital safety rules with respect for practices such as lighting a symbolic lamp (diya) or using sacred water (Ganga Jal). Virtual patients and family members are powered by artificial-intelligence agents that speak, gesture, and express emotion, reflecting authentic Hindu communication styles. The immersive VR setting increases emotional engagement and helps students reflect on their choices and behaviour. A pilot test with ten nursing students will assess usability, realism, and early educational impact through short surveys and interviews. The results will guide improvements before larger studies. This work supports the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) priority on health-workforce development. By combining cultural learning, empathy training, and modern simulation technology, it offers an innovative, scalable approach to preparing healthcare professionals who can deliver inclusive and culturally sensitive care.