Exploring the effects of extended reality head-mounted display nervous system assessment training for nursing students: A pilot feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Health assessment is crucial for planning nursing interventions. Specifically, cerebrovascular diseases involve rapid neurological changes that necessitate precise hands-on assessment skills training.

OBJECTIVES: This study developed and implemented an extended reality head-mounted display (HMD) nervous system assessment training program for nursing students to identify the usability and effectiveness of the system by analyzing their experiences.

DESIGN: This was a mixed-methods study that combined the quantitative element of a one-group pre-post-test design with the qualitative element of qualitative content analysis.

SETTING: University in Korea.

PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 36 nursing students in their 4th year who completed classes in health assessments and adult nursing (nervous system).

METHODS: An extended reality nervous system assessment training program was developed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and limb strength assessment. The learners wore HMD and received training at their own pace. System usability, confidence in nervous system assessment, learning satisfaction, and performance ability were measured and analyzed using SPSS Windows software version 28.0. Descriptive data were used for qualitative content analysis of the training experience.

RESULTS: The usability of the extended-reality HMD nervous system assessment training received positive feedback and most participants (94.4 %) agreed with the system's consistency. Confidence in nervous system assessment significantly improved after the training (p < .001). After the training, learning satisfaction and performance ability were high. Furthermore, advantages of XR-based learning devices and positive learning were observed. Nonetheless, issues such as difficulties in operating the device, inconvenience, physical side effects of wearing the device, and technical limitations existed.

CONCLUSIONS: This study developed and implemented an extended-reality HMD nervous system assessment training program to confirm its feasibility. However, challenges regarding device utilization need to be resolved for its effective development as a learning tool.