JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

It is essential that nurses quickly learn the proper methods for preventing and controlling nosocomial infection and managing intensive care patients during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic, including the donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE). VR simulation offers the advantage of learning in a safe environment with a sense of realism similar to that of an actual clinical setting and has been reported to enhance self-efficacy in infection control, safety performance, and learning satisfaction among students.

Objective:

This study aimed to develop a virtual reality infection control simulation (VRICS) program regarding donning and doffing PPE and respiratory care for pediatric patients admitted to an isolation unit for COVID-19 and to identify the effects of the program on PPE knowledge, infection control performance, and academic self-efficacy for nursing students. Additionally, the realism of the VRICS program and the students’ level of satisfaction with the program were assessed.

Methods:

This was a quasi-experimental study based on a controlled pretest-posttest design. The third- and fourth-year nursing students from a nursing college in “J” city in South Korea were divided into an experimental group (n=25) who participated in a VRICS program and a control group (n=25) with no participation. Data were collected from November 13 to December 10, 2021, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the t-test, paired t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The VRICS program consisted of a pre-briefing including direct practice donning and doffing PPE, VR simulation, and debriefing. The VR simulation had three sessions: donning and inspection of PPE in the dressing room before entering the negative-pressure isolation unit; assessing for suction care, nasopharyngeal suctioning, and checking COVID-19 patients in the negative-pressure isolation unit; and doffing PPE in the dressing room. The total execution time for the program was 180 minutes.

Results:

Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in PPE knowledge (z=-3.28, P=.001), infection control performance(t=4.89, P<.001), and academic self-efficacy(t=4.93, P<.001). The experimental group’s mean scores for realistic immersion and learner satisfaction were 4.49±0.50 points and 4.75±0.38 points (on a 5-point Likert scale), respectively.

Conclusions:

The VR simulation training program involving pediatric COVID-19 patients combined skills training effectively enhanced theoretical knowledge, respiratory care skills, and infectious disease preparedness. Thus, it could be applied to training nurses to respond more effectively to public health situations involving infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Trial: none