Virtual reality versus low level simulation in newborn care teaching in Turkey.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Simulation Technology
• Nursing & Midwifery

Background:

• Traditional teaching methods for newborn care may lack sufficient practical application.
• Simulation-based learning offers a safe environment for skill development in healthcare education.
• Evaluating novel simulation technologies is crucial for enhancing midwifery training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) simulation versus low-fidelity simulation in teaching newborn care to midwifery students in Turkey.
• To assess the impact of VR simulation on students' practical skills, self-confidence, and satisfaction levels.
• To evaluate a newly developed VR simulator for its efficacy in newborn care education.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study was conducted with midwifery students during the 2019-2020 academic year.
• An experimental group received training using a developed VR simulator, while a control group used a low-fidelity simulator.
• Student performance, self-confidence, and satisfaction were measured and compared between the two groups.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed between the VR simulation and low-fidelity simulation groups in terms of skills, satisfaction, and self-confidence.
• The developed VR simulator demonstrated a notable increase in student satisfaction, self-confidence, and skill acquisition.
• The VR simulation method was found to be more effective than the classical teaching approach.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality simulation is a superior method for enhancing newborn care education among midwifery students.
• The developed VR simulator effectively boosts student satisfaction, self-confidence, and practical skills in newborn care.
• VR simulation offers a promising and effective alternative to traditional methods in midwifery training.