Development and Usability Testing of a 3D Virtual Simulation Game in Teaching Intravenous Fluid Therapy in Nursing...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Game-Based Learning

Background:

• Peripheral intravenous catheterization (PIVC) and intravenous fluid therapy (IFT) are critical nursing skills.
• Traditional education methods may benefit from innovative, engaging approaches like gamification.
• Existing literature and learning theories informed the game's design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the gamification process for PIVC and IFT in nursing education.
• To develop and conduct usability testing of a 3D virtual simulation game called IntraveNurseGame.
• To evaluate the game's potential for enhancing nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Developed an 11-stage 3D virtual simulation game (IntraveNurseGame) based on Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory and Schell's Elemental Tetrad.
• Incorporated score-based titles aligned with Benner's clinical competence stages.
• Conducted usability testing with 17 participants (5 experts, 12 students) using heuristic evaluation, think-aloud, and user tests (Game Evaluation Questionnaire, GUESS-20-TR-Scale).

Main Results:

• Nursing experts found the game enjoyable, meeting expectations and aiding learning, with suggestions for animation and instruction improvements.
• Participants rated the gaming experience positively, with a mean GUESS-20-TR score above the moderate level (5.71 ± 0.90).
• The 3D virtual simulation demonstrated good usability with identified areas for enhancement.

Conclusions:

• The IntraveNurseGame exhibits promising usability for nursing education in PIVC and IFT.
• The theoretical framework and gamification elements can guide future development of educational games and reward systems.
• Usability testing provides crucial data for refining virtual simulation games in healthcare education.