Mixed Methods Examination of Challenging and Bothersome Events in Nursing Virtual Simulations: Comparing Screen-Based...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality in Healthcare

Background:

• Virtual simulations (VSs) are vital for nursing training, but quality assessment tools and research on design's impact on user experience are lacking.
• Comparative data on screen-based VS versus virtual reality (VR) headset experiences within identical scenarios is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify challenging/bothersome events in VSs.
• To compare the manifestation of these events in screen-based VS versus VR.
• To examine the impact of these events on electrodermal activity (EDA), performance, usability, and cognitive load.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach analyzing audio-video and EDA data from 20 nursing students.
• Objective performance scoring via OMS software.
• Post-simulation surveys for usability and cognitive load assessment.

Main Results:

• Six categories of challenging/bothersome events were identified.
• Encountering these events significantly increased students' EDA, indicating arousal (e.g., frustration/confusion).
• Software-related restrictions and bugs critically increased extrinsic cognitive load compared to technical errors.

Conclusions:

• Specific VS design elements negatively impact student experience, highlighting areas for improvement.
• Insights provided for educators and developers to reduce cognitive load and enhance virtual learning environments.
• Recommendations for developing VS-specific usability tools and conducting further research in diverse contexts.