Background: Digital games–based learning is a method of using digital games to impart knowledge. Virtual reality (VR) programs are a practical application of this method. Due to demographic changes, the nursing profession will become increasingly important. These VR applications can be of use in training nurses for future professional challenges they may encounter. The continuous development of VR applications enables trainees to encounter simulated real life effectively and to experience increasingly concrete situations. This can be of great importance in nursing education, since 3-dimensionality enables a better visualization of many fields of activity and can prevent potential future errors. In addition to this learning effect, VR applications also bring an element of fun to learning. Objective: The aim of this qualitative research effort is to observe the degree of acceptance of VR applications by nursing students in Germany. Various factors, including social influences, performance expectations, and effort expectations, are taken into consideration. Methods: With a qualitative cohort study, the acceptance of nursing students towards VR applications in anatomy teaching was determined. The 12 participants were first asked to fill out a quantitative questionnaire on their sociodemographic characteristics and the extent to which they valued and liked using technology. The participants were then allowed to test the VR application themselves and were finally asked about their experience in a qualitative interview. For the collection of data and the analysis of results, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology was used in this study. Results: Overall, the study shows that the interviewed persons rated the VR application quite positively. The greatest influence in this was the personal attitude towards technology; the higher this affinity is, the more useful the VR application appears. Social influences can also increase the participant’s own acceptance if peers have a positive attitude towards such applications. The study shows that the trainees' motivation to learn was increased by using VR. We believe this is because each trainee could learn individually and the VR application was perceived as an enjoyable activity. Nevertheless, the cost factor of implementing VR applications in nursing training is currently still an obstacle, as not every institution has such financial capacities. Conclusions: The extent to which the use of VR applications in the training of nursing staff is justified depends on the degree of personal acceptance. The collected results give good practice-oriented insight into the attitude of trainees towards VR. Many of the interviewed persons saw benefits in the use of VR technologies. As VR applications are constantly developing, it is necessary to conduct further studies on VR applications in nursing education and to include other possible disciplines in which these applications can be helpful.

Background: Endometriosis is one of the most common diseases in women of reproductive age. Those affected suffer from a variety of symptoms that can have a challenging impact on different areas of life. Social media such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube offer affected women a platform for sharing their condition and increasing its visibility. This study examines how endometriosis is communicated in the comment sections of such posts on social media in Germany in order to better understand the reality of the lives of those affected. Methods: 300 comments from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube were evaluated using summarizing qualitative content analysis. Data collection took place between October and November 2024. Results: Four categories were identified that shaped the exchange on social media. These included psychological and physical stress, criticism of healthcare, social impact and coping with endometriosis. Conclusions: Endometriosis remains stigmatised as a “women’s disease”, which makes recognition and prioritization in the healthcare system difficult. The reduction to menstruation-related complaints hinders the treatment of endometriosis-related symptoms, while pejorative communication by doctors increases the burden on those affected. While social media enables open dialogue and peer support, it also has potential to spread misinformation, influencing health decisions and fostering scepticism toward medical advice. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted public health response: destigmatising endometriosis through education, improving medical training, strengthening diagnostic pathways, and raising awareness in society.

Objectives: Facilitating and challenging aspects of a non‐linear diagnostic process of dementia were explored in interviews with physicians from outpatient clinics of a major hospital in Turkey.Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 physicians between March and April 2023. Purposive sampling was used to identify clinics that perform dementia diagnostics, including neurology, geriatrics, and psychiatry outpatient clinics. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.Results: Facilitating and challenging aspects were perceived on three levels: (1) diagnostic procedures and methods, which focus on the assessment of dementia and the aspects that arise in the process; (2) communication, which describes the verbal and nonverbal relationships between health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers, as well as their communication styles; (3) care environment, which describes the various environmental influences on patients, both on a sociocultural and institutional level.Conclusion: The diagnostic process for dementia involves several interrelated aspects, making a flexible, holistic approach essential. In this study, the social and cultural context of the patients and the involvement of the family emerged as crucial elements. By integrating these aspects, along with a mix of informal and formal communication between healthcare providers and families, the diagnostic process can become more patient‐centered and effective. To further improve outcomes, raising awareness and providing education about dementia could reduce stigma and encourage earlier recognition and better management of the condition during the diagnostic process.

BACKGROUND Digital games–based learning is a method of using digital games to impart knowledge. Virtual reality (VR) programs are a practical application of this method. Due to demographic changes, the nursing profession will become increasingly important. These VR applications can be of use in training nurses for future professional challenges they may encounter. The continuous development of VR applications enables trainees to encounter simulated real life effectively and to experience increasingly concrete situations. This can be of great importance in nursing education, since 3-dimensionality enables a better visualization of many fields of activity and can prevent potential future errors. In addition to this learning effect, VR applications also bring an element of fun to learning. OBJECTIVE The aim of this qualitative research effort is to observe the degree of acceptance of VR applications by nursing students in Germany. Various factors, including social influences, performance expectations, and effort expectations, are taken into consideration. METHODS With a qualitative cohort study, the acceptance of nursing students towards VR applications in anatomy teaching was determined. The 12 participants were first asked to fill out a quantitative questionnaire on their sociodemographic characteristics and the extent to which they valued and liked using technology. The participants were then allowed to test the VR application themselves and were finally asked about their experience in a qualitative interview. For the collection of data and the analysis of results, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology was used in this study. RESULTS Overall, the study shows that the interviewed persons rated the VR application quite positively. The greatest influence in this was the personal attitude towards technology; the higher this affinity is, the more useful the VR application appears. Social influences can also increase the participant’s own acceptance if peers have a positive attitude towards such applications. The study shows that the trainees' motivation to learn was increased by using VR. We believe this is because each trainee could learn individually and the VR application was perceived as an enjoyable activity. Nevertheless, the cost factor of implementing VR applications in nursing training is currently still an obstacle, as not every institution has such financial capacities. CONCLUSIONS The extent to which the use of VR applications in the training of nursing staff is justified depends on the degree of personal acceptance. The collected results give good practice-oriented insight into the attitude of trainees towards VR. Many of the interviewed persons saw benefits in the use of VR technologies. As VR applications are constantly developing, it is necessary to conduct further studies on VR applications in nursing education and to include other possible disciplines in which these applications can be helpful.

Background: The perceived ability to influence an infection with SARS-CoV-2 has an impact on compliance with protective measures. Factors influencing perceived controllability are not yet fully known. The aim of this study was to identify intersectional differences in perceived controllability. Insights into these intersectional differences could help to develop user-centered strategies to improve the acceptance of protective measures.Methods: Data from the seventh wave of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS) was used to investigate differences in the population regarding the perceived controllability. The role of socio-demographic and socio-economic predictors was investigated using multivariable linear regression modeling. Intersectional differences were examined using interaction terms.Results: Information on 4,823 respondents aged 46 to 100 years were available, of which 50.9% were female. Migration status (yes vs. no: β = -0.27; 95%-CI = -0.48,-0.06), education level (high vs. low: β = 0.31; 95%-CI: 0.08, 0.55) and employment status (retired vs. employed: β = 0.33; 95%-CI: 0.19, 0.48) were found to be significantly influencing perceived controllability. Interaction effects were found with respect to sex and migration status, with migrant women rating their perceived controllability lower than non-migrant women (β = -0.51; 95%-CI = -0.80, -0.21), while no differences were evident between migrant and non-migrant men (β = -0.02; 95%-CI = -0.32, 0.28). Further intersectional differences were not observed.Conclusions: The results show that intersectional differences in perceived controllability occur especially between migrant and non-migrant women. Possible causes may lie in language barriers, which in connection with lower health literacy may affect perceived controllability. Dedicated efforts to improve controllability among older adults, those with lower educational attainment and migrant women are warranted.

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Menschen mit Migrationsgeschichte erhalten vielfach keine auf ihre Bedürfnisse zugeschnittene Hospiz- und Palliativversorgung. Migrationssensible Strategien werden oft nicht oder nur unsystematisch umgesetzt. Fragestellung/Ziel: Ziel der Studie war es, hinderliche und förderliche Aspekte der Umsetzung migrationssensibler Versorgung in Hospiz- und Palliativeinrichtungen in Deutschland zu untersuchen. Methoden: Es wurden 17 leitfadengestützte, telefonische Interviews mit Mitarbeitenden entsprechender Einrichtungen geführt und mittels zusammenfassender qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Geringe Akzeptanz durch Einrichtungsträger, finanzielle und personelle Engpässe sowie strukturelle Barrieren behindern die Umsetzung im Versorgungsalltag. Unterschiedliche Wertvorstellungen zwischen Patient_innen und Trägern können die Versorgung weiter erschweren. Spontane Maßnahmen helfen punktuell, führen jedoch zu erhöhtem Arbeitsaufwand und gestörten Abläufen. Förderlich wirkt mehrsprachiges Personal, das die Berücksichtigung kulturspezifischer Bedürfnisse ermöglicht. Kooperationspartner und Netzwerke können helfen, Strategien umzusetzen und die Qualität der Versorgung zu fördern. Schlussfolgerungen: Die fehlende Berücksichtigung von Bedürfnissen kann zu Konflikten führen und die Versorgung erschweren. Spontane Maßnahmen können nur eingeschränkt Abhilfe schaffen. Vorausschauende Strategien, institutionelle und finanzielle Unterstützung sowie die Förderung der Akzeptanz unterschiedlicher Werte auch bei den Einrichtungsträgern sind erforderlich.