A multi-site study examining the usability of a virtual reality game designed to improve retention of sterile catheterization skills in nursing students

A usability study of a Virtual Reality Sterile Urinary Catheter Insertion Game (VR SUCIG) was conducted to understand user needs in regards to this game. Background: Learning and retention of psychomotor skills in health care is essential to safe clinical practice. Bauman suggests games are most useful when they are part of a layered-learning approach; in other words, they support various forms of learning and serve as cognitive aids (Bauman et al., 2014). Intervention: The VR Sterile Urinary Catheter Insertion Game (VRSUCIG) was created by nurses and a computer gaming developer to provide nursing students with a cost-effective way to practice sterile catheter insertion skills in a systematic, evidence-based manner. A usability study and user reaction survey were conducted to gain a deep understanding of user’s needs. Methods: Three hundred nursing students, from 9 US nursing schools participated. Participants played the VR SUCIG and completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) and a User Reaction Survey (URS). Results: The SUS for the 2nd generation of the VR SUCIG was 57, or medium usability. The URS demonstrated the game motivated them to keep practicing. The VR SUCIG promoted repetitive practice of the skill and visually accentuated the concept of sterility. Conclusions. User reactions indicate that nursing students were eager and excited to utilize this technology. Usability scores indicate further refinement of technology is needed.