A virtual reality simulator for assessing and caring for patients with dyspnea: A randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Respiratory Care

Background:

• New nurses require effective training for dyspnea management.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers innovative learning tools for healthcare professionals.
• Assessing VR's impact on nursing education is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate new nurses' knowledge and learning attitudes using a VR simulator for dyspnea management.
• To compare the effectiveness of VR simulations versus traditional lectures in teaching dyspnea management.
• To assess the retention of learning outcomes one month after the intervention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial design was used.
• New nurses were divided into VR simulation and traditional lecture groups.
• Knowledge, learning attitudes, and technology acceptance were assessed, with a delayed test for retention.

Main Results:

• Both VR and traditional lecture groups showed significant improvements in dyspneic patient assessment and care knowledge.
• No statistical differences were found between the groups in knowledge and learning attitudes.
• The VR group demonstrated increased technology acceptance.

Conclusions:

• Both traditional and VR teaching methods effectively enhance new nurses' learning and skills in dyspnea management.
• VR simulation requires hardware investment, and its long-term clinical effectiveness needs further investigation.
• VR technology holds promise for nursing education but requires validation for sustained clinical application.