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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06353763

Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Virtual Reality in the Nursing Curriculum

The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of an immersive virtual reality learning programme for nursing students, based on virtual glasses, in acquiring the competence (knowledge, skills and attitudes) to care for patients with pressure ulcers, and to compare it with the traditional teaching method.

The design was an exploratory randomised controlled trial. The variables used to measure effectiveness were competence and its attributes: knowledge assessment by a multiple-choice test (Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool, Pukat 2.0 instrument), skill performance by direct observation of procedural skills (simulated cases with standardised patients) and satisfaction and usability assessment (Usefulness, Satisfaction and Ease of Use Questionnaire).

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Key information

Conditions

Pressure Ulcer Skin Diseases Skin Ulcer Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Navarra

Pamplona, Navarre, Spain

About this study

The study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial conducted from March to May 2022 at a Nursing Faculty. The participants were second-year Nursing Bachelor Degree students from a University in the North of Spain. A convenience sample of students in the second year of the nursing program participated in the study. According to the sample size calculation for a two-tailed independent t-test, conducted using the G*Power 3.1.9 program, with a type I error rate of 0.05, power of 0.80, and an effect size of 0.71, the estimated minimum required sample size was 33. The recommended sample size was 40 participants per group, accounting for a 10% allowance for withdrawals, missing data, and lost follow-up. After registering to enrol in the study, 127 students were screened by the researchers for eligibility. Of these, 99 volunteers met the inclusion criteria and were contacted to schedule the pre-test phase. Following the pre-test assessment, participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (50 students) or the control group (49 students) at a 1:1 allocation ratio using a computer-generated assignment. During the study, three participants in the intervention group and two in the control group were excluded due to missing follow-up (refusal to continue in the research), and one student in the control group was removed by statistical analysis. In total, 93 participants were included in the data analysis.

Data was collected from February to May, a period during which the students did not have exams. The demographic information form included fields for age, gender, specific learning related to pressure ulcer care at degree level, and previous experience with virtual reality devices and environments.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Students enrolled in the 2rd year of nursing at the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Navarra and who voluntarily agree to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Students who had acquired the skill of caring pressure ulcers in advance.

Treatment and study plan

Immersive virtual reality learning program

Other

The immersive virtual reality learning programme was developed by the research team and two nurse experts in chronic wounds, who designed the learning content and script and created six pressure ulcer (PU) cases. Based on the standards of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP), the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) and the National Group for the Study and Advice on Pressure Ulcers and Chronic Wounds (GNEAUPP), prevention of healthy skin (case one), management of grade I, II, III and IV PUs (cases two to five) and an infected PU (debridement intervention) were developed. For each case, there was a formative version with immediate feedback and an evaluative one. Before starting the training, the students learned how to use the virtual reality glasses, buttons and joystick by playing a game that trained different dexterity movements. The computer assembly IVR application was developed using Unity 3D and the virtual objects were designed in 3Ds Max.

Primary outcomes

  1. Knowledge

    Time frame: One month

    The Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT) 2.0 was used to evaluate students' understanding of caring for patients with pressure ulcer problems. The instrument was created and validated by Manderlier (2017). It consists of 25 multiple-choice items, each with a stem containing the problem and five response alternatives. The items are categorized into six relevant themes: 'Aetiology' (6 items), 'Classification and observation' (4 items), 'Risk assessment' (2 items), 'Nutrition' (3 items), 'Prevention of PU' (8 items), and 'Specific patient groups' (2 items). Each correct answer was awarded one point, with a total score of 25. Incorrect answers were not penalised. A higher score indicated a better understanding of PU prevention and care.

  2. Skill performance

    Time frame: One month

    To assess procedural skill in pressure ulcers care, a simulation-based experience (SBE) with a standardized patient was created. The SBE consisted of six cases, each corresponding to one of the six levels of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) training, but with different images. Upon entering the classroom, the student had to choose one of six real images, face down, and turn it over to reveal the hazard for the experiment. The simulation-based experience should be completed within ten minutes using the knowledge acquired through self-learning and IVR training. This includes the use of tools such as the Braden scale or the T.I.M.E. (Tissue, infection, moisture, edges) clinical decision support tool to care for the level of pressure ulcers shown in the image. The SBE was evaluated using a 10-item rubric created by the research team and reviewed by a nurse specialist in chronic wounds and pressure ulcers.

  3. Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use

    Time frame: One month

    Usability refers to the ease of identifying, comprehending, and using something. To measure the usability and satisfaction of the glasses, we used the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use (USE) questionnaire developed by Lund (2001). The questionnaire assesses four dimensions: usefulness, ease of use, ease of learning, and satisfaction. The USE questionnaire consists of 30 items that assess usability on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (totally disagree) to 7 (totally agree). The questionnaire has good face validity, reliability, and validity due to its unambiguous and relevant descriptions.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality Training Versus Traditional Teaching in Pressure Ulcers Care. A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Apr 9, 2024
Registry last updated
Apr 9, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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