Projected Augmented Reality (P-AR) for Enhancing Nursing Education About Pressure Injury: A Pilot Evaluation Study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Nursing Informatics
• Simulation Technology

Background:

• Pressure injuries pose a significant challenge in healthcare, necessitating effective educational strategies for nursing students.
• Traditional methods for teaching pressure injury prevention and management may not fully capture the complexities of the condition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of a Projected Augmented Reality (P-AR) system to improve nursing education regarding pressure injuries.
• To assess user engagement, effectiveness, usefulness, user-friendliness, and realism of the P-AR system.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 32 nursing students and faculty at a Midwestern university.
• Participants interacted with a P-AR system prototype designed for pressure injury education.
• A survey with Likert-scale and open-ended questions assessed user experience and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• The P-AR system received high median satisfaction scores (4-5) for most features from students and faculty.
• Student satisfaction with the "realism" feature scored a median of 3 (neutral), leading to system refinement with enhanced imagery.
• The system was refined to incorporate realistic still and animated images based on feedback.

Conclusions:

• The P-AR system, utilizing 3D dynamic images, demonstrates potential to enhance the teaching and learning of pressure injury management.
• Cutting-edge simulation technologies like P-AR can significantly benefit education on complex aspects of pressure injury development and care.