Caring for Patients in the Pharmacology Inter-Leaved Learning–Virtual Reality (PILL-VR) Hospital to Bridge the Theory-Practice Gap in Higher Education

• In Event: 72.050 - Poster Session 17
  In Poster Session: 72.050-5 - Designing Technologies to Support Learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Pharmacology Inter-Leaved Learning-Virtual-Reality (PILL-VR) simulation when applied to nursing education, as a tool for learning medication administration procedures in a three-dimensional virtual ward. A quasi-experimental controlled pre-test-intervention-post-test- design study was conducted. Participants consisted of nursing students who either learned with a PILL-VR simulation (experimental group; n=82) or who learned according to the traditional lecture-based curriculum (control group; n=47). The results revealed significantly higher conceptual and procedural knowledge learning gains following activity with the PILL-VR simulation compared to studying via traditional lecture-based curriculum. These results suggest that using VR simulations may provide affordable and flexible access to necessary practical skills in higher education, which is crucial to developing students’ expertise.

Authors

• Ilana Dubovi, Utah State University

• Sharona T. Levy, University of Haifa