Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025
07:09
Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
Published on: August 29, 2018
12.8K
Virtual Reality Simulation in Nursing and Midwifery Education: A Usability Study.
Mohamad M Saab1, Megan McCarthy, Billy O'Mahony
1Author Affiliation: Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery (Dr Saab, Prof Hegarty, Ms McCarthy, Mr O'Mahony, Mr Cooke, Ms Walshe, Dr Noonan) and School of Computer Science and Information Technology (Mr Murphy), University College Cork, Ireland.
Computers, Informatics, Nursing : CIN
|February 7, 2023
Summary
Virtual reality simulation is an acceptable tool for nursing and midwifery students to practice clinical skills safely. Students found it enjoyable and recommended it for training and learning rare situations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Health Professions Education
- Simulation Technology
Background:
- Virtual reality (VR) simulation provides a safe, interactive environment for skill acquisition.
- Undergraduate nursing and midwifery students can benefit from VR simulation for clinical and psychomotor skill development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the usability and satisfaction of VR simulation among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students.
- To explore student perceptions of VR simulation for clinical skills training.
Main Methods:
- Convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit 43 undergraduate nursing and midwifery students.
- Participants engaged in a 20-minute VR simulation scenario and completed a survey including the System Usability Scale and satisfaction questions.
- Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data underwent deductive content analysis.
Main Results:
- The mean System Usability Scale score was 75.87 (SD 13.7), indicating acceptable usability.
- Nearly all participants reported high satisfaction, perceiving VR simulation as informative, enjoyable, and conducive to safe, self-directed learning.
- Students recommended VR simulation for practicing clinical skills, preparing for placements, and learning rare clinical scenarios.
Conclusions:
- VR simulation is a well-accepted and valuable tool for undergraduate nursing and midwifery education.
- Effective integration requires strong pedagogy, alignment with learning outcomes, and adequate training for educators and students.
- VR simulation offers a safe, engaging platform for enhancing clinical competencies and preparing future healthcare professionals.
