{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:17:42Z","timestamp":1760059062498,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]],"date-time":"2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747699200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Virtual Worlds"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Natural and human-made disasters can severely impact communities and can result in high numbers of human injuries and deaths. Animals, both companion and livestock, are often injured as a result of these disasters and require veterinary care. Veterinarians are not only involved in providing care for these animals but also play important roles in planning and preparedness functions that occur before a disaster strikes. There are several examples of the use of multi-user virtual environments (MUVE) to provide human health care workers with valuable training centered on disaster response and disaster medicine. This communication provides a thorough review of a clinical rotation, as part of a professional veterinary curriculum, that uses a combination of classroom and experiential learning via an MUVE, Second Life\u00ae. This rotation has provided more than 1800 senior veterinary students at a veterinary school in the United States with experiential learning opportunities focused on veterinary disaster preparedness, planning, and response training. The authors have prepared this communication to provide other institutions and educators with information on the practical implementation of Second Life\u00ae in teaching and to offer recommendations based on our institutional experience.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/virtualworlds4020019","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]],"date-time":"2025-05-20T06:10:46Z","timestamp":1747721446000},"page":"19","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Using a Multi-User Virtual Environment to Conduct Veterinary Disaster Preparedness Training"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-4693-137X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kyle","family":"Johnson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA"}]},{"given":"Noberto","family":"Espitia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8975-8069","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Debra","family":"Zoran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"378","DOI":"10.3138\/jvme.1212-114R1","article-title":"How a Disaster Preparedness Rotation Helps Teach the Seven NAVMEC Professional Competencies: The Texas A&M University Experience","volume":"40","author":"Bissett","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. Educ."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1851","DOI":"10.1007\/s11069-022-05277-z","article-title":"Review on Visualization Technology in Simulation Training System for Major Natural Disasters","volume":"112","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nat. Hazards"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.3138\/jvme\/013","article-title":"Preparedness and Disaster Response Training for Veterinary Students: Literature Review and Description of the North Carolina State University Credentialed Veterinary Responder Program","volume":"36","author":"Dunning","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. Educ."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.3138\/jvme.0318-025r2","article-title":"Direct Measurement of Veterinary Student Learning Outcomes for the NAVMEC Professional Competencies in a Multi-User Virtual Learning Environment","volume":"48","author":"Espitia","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. Educ."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"e20210066","article-title":"Assessing Veterinary Practice and Practitioner Preparedness for Natural and Man-Made Disasters, Including COVID-19","volume":"49","author":"Garcia","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. Educ."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"923","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2010.04.003","article-title":"Cognitive, Social and Teaching Presence in a Virtual World and a Text Chat","volume":"55","author":"Traphagan","year":"2010","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aghapour, M., and Bockstahler, B. (2022). State of the Art and Future Prospects of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Veterinary Medicine: A Systematic Review. Animals, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12243517"},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"39","article-title":"Digital Twins with Application of AR and VR in Livestock Instructions","volume":"77","author":"Petrov","year":"2021","journal-title":"Probl. Eng. Cybern. Robot."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.3138\/jvme.1115-184r4","article-title":"Using the Virtual World of Second Life in Veterinary Medicine: Student and Faculty Perceptions","volume":"45","author":"Artemiou","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Vet. Med. Educ."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"526","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8535.2009.00967.x","article-title":"The Future for (Second) Life and Learning","volume":"40","author":"Salmon","year":"2009","journal-title":"Br. J. Educ. Technol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1","DOI":"10.2196\/jmir.1337","article-title":"Learning in a Virtual World: Experience with Using Second Life for Medical Education","volume":"12","author":"Wiecha","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Med. Internet Res."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1126","DOI":"10.1055\/a-2379-8729","article-title":"How to Play a Game Properly\u2014Enhancing Obstetrics and Gynecology Education through Gamification: A Scoping Review","volume":"84","author":"Neubacher","year":"2024","journal-title":"Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"713","DOI":"10.1080\/01421590903134160","article-title":"Virtual Patients in a Virtual World: Training Paramedic Students for Practice","volume":"31","author":"Conradi","year":"2009","journal-title":"Med. Teach."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1017\/S1049023X20000230","article-title":"Creating a Novel Disaster Medicine Virtual Reality Training Environment","volume":"35","author":"Gout","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prehospital Disaster Med."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Monahan, C., Ullberg, L., and Harvey, K. (2009, January 22\u201324). Virtual Emergency Preparedness Planning Using Second Life. Proceedings of the 2009 IEEE\/INFORMS International Conference on Service Operations, Logistics and Informatics, Chicago, IL, USA.","DOI":"10.1109\/SOLI.2009.5203950"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijhcs.2015.11.001","article-title":"Influence of Head-up Displays\u2019 Characteristics on User Experience in Video Games","volume":"87","author":"Caroux","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Hum.-Comput. Stud."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1002\/jhm.13274","article-title":"Multiuser Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation for Interprofessional Sepsis Recognition and Management","volume":"19","author":"Zackoff","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Hosp. Med."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e18822","DOI":"10.2196\/18822","article-title":"An Immersive Multi-User Virtual Reality for Emergency Simulation Training: Usability Study","volume":"8","author":"Lerner","year":"2020","journal-title":"JMIR Serious Games"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1007\/s00464-010-1181-0","article-title":"The LapSim Virtual Reality Simulator: Promising but Not yet Proven","volume":"25","author":"Fairhurst","year":"2011","journal-title":"Surg. Endosc."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1180","DOI":"10.1007\/s00464-008-0298-x","article-title":"The Value of Haptic Feedback in Conventional and Robot-Assisted Minimal Invasive Surgery and Virtual Reality Training: A Current Review","volume":"23","author":"Schijven","year":"2009","journal-title":"Surg. Endosc."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1080\/13645700701820242","article-title":"Haptics in Minimally Invasive Surgery\u2014A Review","volume":"17","author":"Goossens","year":"2008","journal-title":"Minim. Invasive Ther. Allied Technol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102","DOI":"10.1097\/01.sla.0000149301.60553.1e","article-title":"Force Feedback Plays a Significant Role in Minimally Invasive Surgery: Results and Analysis","volume":"241","author":"Tholey","year":"2005","journal-title":"Ann. Surg."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1088","DOI":"10.1002\/bjs.6344","article-title":"Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Training for Laparoscopic Surgery","volume":"95","author":"Gurusamy","year":"2008","journal-title":"Br. J. Surg."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"346","DOI":"10.1080\/13645706.2017.1319866","article-title":"Lack of Transfer of Skills after Virtual Reality Simulator Training with Haptic Feedback. Minim","volume":"26","author":"Hofstad","year":"2017","journal-title":"Invasive Ther. Allied Technol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2923.2003.01440.x","article-title":"Simulation in Surgical Training: Educational Issues and Practical Implications","volume":"37","author":"Kneebone","year":"2003","journal-title":"Med. Educ."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"812","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacr.2023.09.012","article-title":"An Interuniversity Competition for Medical Students to Learn Radiology in the Second Life Metaverse","volume":"21","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Radiol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Appelboom, Y., Groenen, Y., Notten, D., Bruin, A.D., Buijs, J., Haak, H.R., Broggreve, H.F., Lambriks, L., and Stassen, P.M. (2025). Experienced Cognitive Load in the Emergency Department. A Prospective Study. PLoS ONE, 20.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0314052"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e10742","DOI":"10.1002\/aet2.10742","article-title":"Cognitive Load during Training for Out-of-Department Emergency Responses","volume":"6","author":"Dworkis","year":"2022","journal-title":"AEM Educ. Train."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guti\u00e9rrez, \u00c1., Blanco, P., Ruiz, V., Chatzigeorgiou, C., Oregui, X., \u00c1lvarez, M., Navarro, S., Feidakis, M., Azpiroz, I., and Izquierdo, G. (2023). Biosignals Monitoring of First Responders for Cognitive Load Estimation in Real-Time Operation. Appl. Sci., 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/app13137368"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"620","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjsurg.2020.02.002","article-title":"Training with Cognitive Load Improves Performance under Similar Conditions in a Real Surgical Task","volume":"220","author":"Sankaranarayanan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am. J. Surg."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trf.2018.08.019","article-title":"Emergency Response Driver Training: Dual-Task Decrements of Dispatch Communication","volume":"59","author":"Hembroff","year":"2018","journal-title":"Transp. Res. Part F Traffic Psychol. Behav."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"348","DOI":"10.4103\/0974-2700.70743","article-title":"Simulation-Based Learning: Just like the Real Thing","volume":"3","author":"Lateef","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Emerg. Trauma Shock"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.7861\/fhj.2019-0036","article-title":"Virtual Reality and the Transformation of Medical Education","volume":"6","author":"Pottle","year":"2019","journal-title":"Future Healthc. J."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gittens, C.L., and Gloumeau, P.C. (2015, January 14\u201316). Does a Segmented Health Bar Affect a Player\u2019s Preference for a Game? A Pilot Study. Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE Games Entertainment Media Conference (GEM), Toronto, ON, Canada.","DOI":"10.1109\/GEM.2015.7377232"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.14742\/ajet.3840","article-title":"Virtualisation Devices for Student Learning: Comparison between Desktop-Based (Oculus Rift) and Mobile-Based (Gear VR) Virtual Reality in Medical and Health Science Education","volume":"33","author":"Moro","year":"2017","journal-title":"Australas. J. Educ. Technol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1097\/PCC.0000000000002249","article-title":"Impact of an Immersive Virtual Reality Curriculum on Medical Students\u2019 Clinical Assessment of Infants With Respiratory Distress","volume":"21","author":"Zackoff","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatr. Crit. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.radi.2020.07.017","article-title":"3D Virtual Reality Simulation in Radiography Education: The Students\u2019 Experience","volume":"27","author":"Stowe","year":"2021","journal-title":"Radiography"}],"container-title":["Virtual Worlds"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2813-2084\/4\/2\/19\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:35:32Z","timestamp":1760031332000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2813-2084\/4\/2\/19"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6]]}},"alternative-id":["virtualworlds4020019"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/virtualworlds4020019","relation":{},"ISSN":["2813-2084"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2813-2084"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]]}}}