National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Ilsan Hospital is rolling out an experiential maternity education program incorporating metaverse technology. The program is drawing attention as a case of shifting from conventional lecture-based instruction to virtual reality-based hands-on training.
Ilsan Hospital announced on Wednesday that it will operate an “Immersive Pregnancy and Childbirth Class” for expectant mothers and prospective parents on June 11. Participants will experience natural birth and cesarean section procedures firsthand in a virtual environment and simulate breastfeeding and newborn care.
The curriculum consists of three modules: understanding pregnancy and childbirth, addressing common questions during pregnancy, and learning about high-risk pregnancies. A Q&A session with medical specialists will follow the lectures.
The program features Kim Hee-sun, head of the Regional Maternal and Child Health Center at NHIS Ilsan Hospital, along with Professor Song Jung-min of Korea University Guro Hospital and Professor Heo Hye-won of Yongin Severance Hospital.
A total of four sessions will be held this year. Two sessions are scheduled for the first half (June and July) and two for the second half (September and October). The second-half sessions will additionally feature humanities and social science lectures covering emotional changes during pregnancy and childbirth as well as preparation for parental roles.
“We designed this program to provide practical support so that prospective parents can prepare for a healthy childbirth based on accurate information alongside medical specialists,” Kim said.
The training is part of a STEAM research project funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT titled “Development of a Metaverse-Based Patient-Customized Management System for Integrated Body-Mind Support for Infertile Women and Pregnant Women.” Professor Cho Geum-joon of Korea University Guro Hospital serves as the principal investigator, with seven hospitals including NHIS Ilsan Hospital participating jointly.
Registration is available through a QR code on the program poster.
