The use of virtual reality simulation among nursing students and registered nurses: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: Due to technological advancements and the current generation being more tech-savvy, the use of virtual worlds in nursing education and clinical practice is increasingly popular. We performed a systematic review on randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies to examine the current evidence on the use of virtual worlds as a teaching tool and to ascertain the outcomes measured.

Design: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies.

Data sources: Six electronic databases (PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and ProQuest) were searched by title and abstract from each database's date of inception to December 2019.

Review methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Tool was used to conduct critical appraisal of the selected articles.

Results: Eighteen studies were included in the narrative summary. Studies were mostly conducted in developed countries and focused on nursing students. Advantages of virtual worlds include higher time-cost-effectiveness as compared to mannequin-based simulations and face-to-face lectures. Two major disadvantages were technological issues and the lack of realism.

Conclusions: Among the three learning outcomes (skills-based, cognitive, and affective), virtual worlds are the most effective in improving cognitive outcomes such as theoretical knowledge. This suggests that virtual worlds may be used as an alternative or complementary method to teach theoretical knowledge in nursing education.

Keywords: Education; Nursing; Systematic review; Technology; Virtual reality.