Effectiveness of Virtual Reality technology in Nursing Education: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence

Background and aims: The incorporation of Virtual Reality in nursing education has emerged as a groundbreaking approach to improve clinical training and skill development. In contrast to conventional clinical education methods, which are often limited by logistical issues such as time constraints, spatial limitations, and a narrow variety of clinical scenarios, Virtual Reality based education provides a versatile and immersive alternative. This allows for repeated practice and exposure to a wide range of clinical cases in a safe environment. This systematic review was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of Virtual Reality in nursing education by examining pertinent scholarly articles. Method: A systematic and comprehensive search for studies published between ۲۰۱۹ and ۲۰۲۴ was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, using keywords such as 'Virtual Reality', 'nursing education' and 'education'. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria included studies that dealt with the application of Virtual Reality in nursing education. Duplicates, irrelevant, non-English language studies and articles with unavailable full text were removed. The remaining studies were reviewed by two researchers; their abstracts were examined, and low-quality or unrelated studies were excluded. A risk of bias assessment was conducted using the JBI tool, which includes evaluation methodologies for all types of studies. The selected studies were critically appraised, and relevant data were extracted. This review followed the PRISMA statement. Results: Out of ۴۵۱ articles, ۲۵ articles were included in this systematic review. Virtual Reality technologies enable interactive ۳D simulations that enhance learners' cognitive, practical, and social skills, boosting self-confidence and reducing errors. It significantly improves learning satisfaction, knowledge, skill performance, and self-efficacy. Although Virtual Reality shows promise, existing literature reveals mixed results on its effectiveness, highlighting gaps in motivation, communication skills, and broader healthcare contexts, necessitating long-term studies on clinical outcomes to enhance education quality. Conclusion: The findings advocate for integrating Virtual Reality technology in nursing education while valuing traditional methods. Future research should refine Virtual Reality applications and explore diverse student populations, addressing financial and technical challenges.

کلیدواژه ها:

Virtual Reality ، Nursing ، Nursing Education ، Education