Multidisciplinary Design-Based Multimodal Virtual RealitySimulation in Nursing Education:Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity for innovative educational methods in nursing. Our studytakes a unique approach using a multidisciplinary simulation design, which offers a systematic and comprehensive strategy fordeveloping virtual reality (VR) simulations in nursing education. Objective: The aim of this study is to develop VR simulation content for a pediatric nursing module based on a multidisciplinarysimulation design and to evaluate its feasibility for nursing education. Methods: This study used a 1-group, posttest-only design. VR content for pediatric nursing practice was developed by integratingthe technological characteristics of a multimodal VR system with the learning elements of traditional nursing simulation, combiningvarious disciplines, including education, engineering, and nursing. A user test was conducted with 12 nursing graduates (preservicenurses) followed by post hoc surveys (assessing presence, VR systems, VR sickness, and simulation satisfaction) and in-depth,one-on-one interviews. Results: User tests showed mean scores of 4.01 (SD 1.43) for presence, 4.91 (SD 0.81) for the VR system, 0.64 (SD 0.35) forVR sickness, and 5.00 (SD 1.00) for simulation satisfaction. In-depth interviews revealed that the main strengths of the immersiveVR simulation for pediatric pneumonia nursing were effective visualization and direct experience through hands-on manipulation;the drawback was keyword-based voice interaction. To improve VR simulation quality, participants suggested increasing thenumber of nursing techniques and refining them in more detail. Conclusions: This VR simulation content for a pediatric nursing practice using a multidisciplinary educational design modelwas confirmed to have positive educational potential. Further research is needed to confirm the specific learning effects ofimmersive nursing content based on multidisciplinary design models