Effects of Digital Learning and Virtual Reality in Port-A Catheter Training Course for Oncology Nurses: A...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Oncology Nursing

Background:

• Traditional in-service education for oncology nurses relies heavily on didactic methods.
• There is a need for more effective and engaging educational tools for complex procedures like Port-A-catheter management.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive and interactive learning experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR) and digital learning-based educational course for oncology nurses on Port-A-catheter management.
• To assess the impact of VR training on nurses' knowledge, skills, learning attitude, and satisfaction.
• To explore nurses' perceptions and experiences with VR-based education.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods research design was utilized with a convenience sample of 43 oncology nurses.
• Participants underwent a VR and digital learning-based Port-A-catheter educational course.
• Data collection included pre-test, 1st post-test, and 2nd post-test measurements, analyzed with descriptive statistics and repeated ANOVA. Qualitative data from themes was also gathered.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in Port-A-catheter knowledge and skill levels (p < 0.0001).
• High average scores for learning attitude (4.29 ± 0.46) and satisfaction (4.31 ± 0.58) were reported.
• Qualitative analysis revealed themes of realistic VR scenarios, usefulness of VR practice, willingness to learn with VR, system limitations, and future course potential.

Conclusions:

• A VR-based educational course is an effective method for enhancing oncology nurses' knowledge, skills, learning attitude, and satisfaction regarding Port-A-catheter procedures.
• VR training provides a realistic and engaging platform for skill development in a safe environment.
• Recommendations include incorporating diverse clinical scenarios into VR courses to maximize practical learning and future applicability.