Virtual reality and conventional training for urinary catheterization: A multicenter usability and satisfaction study

Abstract

Background: Urinary Catheterization is a fundamental nursing procedure, but newly graduated nurses oftenlack sufficient practice due to limitations in conventional teaching, underscoring the need for innovativemethods. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness, satisfaction, and usability of virtual reality (VR) with T-Control technologyfor teaching urinary catheterization among nursing students, compared to conventional training methods. Methods: An observational multicenter study was conducted with nursing students from 2 Spanish universi-ties. Participants were randomized into control (conventional training) and experimental (VR training)groups. Assessments included practical skill evaluation for both groups, a knowledge quiz for controls, andsatisfaction plus usability questionnaires (System Usability Scale, SUS) for the experimental group. Results: Forty-eight students participated (24 per group), mostly female (68.8%), mean age 22.22 & sect;8.46. Theexperimental group obtained significantly higher skill scores than controls (6.79 & sect;1.10 vs 5.75 & sect;1.11;P= 0.002). Knowledge quiz results were high (97.91%& sect;5.63%). Satisfaction was positive (6.53 & sect;0.98/10),with inter-university differences (P= 0.012). Usability reached acceptable levels (SUS 70.00 & sect;20.04).Conclusions: Virtual reality training demonstrated superior performance across all parameters, indicating sig-nificant potential for enhancing urinary Catheterization education in nursing programs.