Virtual gaming to develop students' pediatric nursing skills: A usability test

• Published in: Nurse education today 2016-11, Vol.46, p.81-85
• Main Authors: Verkuyl, Margaret, Atack, Lynda, Mastrilli, Paula, Romaniuk, Daria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Clinical Competence; Computer & video games; Computer Simulation; E-simulation; Education, Nursing - methods; Female; Humans; Learning; Middle Aged; Nursing; Nursing education; Nursing skills; Nursing Students; Online; Pediatric Nursing - education; Pediatrics; Protocol Analysis; Simulation; Skill development; Students, Nursing - psychology; Technology Acceptance Model; Usability; Usability test; User-Computer Interface; Video Games
• ISSN: 0260-6917; 1532-2793
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2016.08.024

As competition for specialty clinical placements increases, there is an urgent need to create safe, stimulating, alternative learning environments for students. To address that clinical gap, our team developed a virtual game-based simulation to help nursing students develop their pediatric nursing skills. A usability study was conducted using the Technology Acceptance Model as a research framework. The study was conducted at a community college and included nursing students, nursing faculty/clinicians and two gaming experts. The two experts evaluated the game using a heuristic checklist after playing the game. Participants engaged in a think-aloud activity while playing the game and completed a survey and interview based on the Technology Acceptance Model to explore ease of use and utility of the game. We found a high degree of user satisfaction with the game. Students reported that they had learned about pediatric care, they had become immersed in the game and they were keen to keep playing. Several design changes were recommended. Usability testing is critical in the early stages of simulation development and the study provided useful direction for the development team in the next stage of game development. •There is an urgent need to create safe, innovative, stimulating learning environments for health care students.•Students and nurses reported that they were immersed in the game, helped them to learn and they wanted to keep playing.•The development cost of games is considerable; usability testing, based on a framework using validated methods is essential.