Thesis Format
Monograph
Degree
Master of Science
Program
Nursing
Supervisor
Booth, Richard G.
Abstract
Background: Simulation-based training is an important pedagogical approach used in nursing education. Recently, academic institutions have begun integrating virtual simulation technologies into nursing curricula. There is an increasing need to explore nursing students’ and faculty members’ usability experiences toward virtual simulations.
Research Question: What are the usability experiences of nursing students and faculty who trialed an in-house designed and developed clinical virtual simulation used to demonstrate a wound dressing change?
Methods: Seven participants were recruited. Primary data was collected using a Think Aloud approach followed by individual interviews. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the findings.
Findings: The following themes emerged: (a) overall clinical virtual simulation usability experience; (b) stepping into a nurse's shoes; (c) facilitating learning; and (d) clinical virtual simulation product and production.
Conclusion: Nursing students and nurse faculty members had positive perceptions toward the usability of the clinical virtual simulation.
Summary for Lay Audience
Simulation-based training is a principal method used in undergraduate nursing education to teach students important hands-on clinical skills, critical thinking, and clinical judgment. Recently, schools of nursing in some countries have begun using virtual technologies to enhance nursing students’ clinical experiences and improve accessibility to simulation-based training. This technology remains a relatively new experience for both nursing students and nurse faculty members, and needs exploration pertaining to its usability from the perspective of people who play the simulation. Subsequently, the purpose of this research was to study how people played a virtual wound care simulation and whether it was easy to use (i.e., usability). Nursing students and nursing faculty were asked to talk-aloud whatever thoughts came to mind while trialing the virtual wound care simulation. Information from people talking about using the virtual wound care simulation was then examined and results were generated. These results included four different themes: (a) overall clinical virtual simulation perceptions; (b) stepping into a nurse's shoes; (c) facilitating learning; and (d) clinical virtual simulation product and production. Based on the findings of this study, more research is needed in this area to further develop virtual wound care simulation tools for undergraduate nursing education.
Recommended Citation
Cooke, Samantha Beatrice, "Clinical Virtual Simulation: A Qualitative Usability Study" (2022). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 8946.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/8946
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