Effects of Virtual Reality Hand Hygiene Simulation on Nurses' Hand Hygiene
Development and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Virtual Reality Simulation for Hand Hygiene Training: An In-Service Nursing Education Example
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are an important patient safety concern, and hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures for preventing their transmission. However, hand hygiene compliance among healthcare professionals, including nurses, remains suboptimal. Innovative educational approaches may support the development of hand hygiene knowledge, behaviour, and compliance.
Virtual reality (VR) simulation provides an immersive and interactive learning environment that allows learners to practice clinical situations and reinforce knowledge and skills. In nursing education, VR simulation may facilitate the transfer of theoretical knowledge into practice and provide opportunities for repeated learning experiences.
This randomized controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of a VR-based hand hygiene simulation for nurses. Participants in both the experimental and control groups received standard hand hygiene training, while participants in the experimental group additionally received VR-based hand hygiene simulation. The study evaluated the effects of the intervention on nurses' hand hygiene knowledge, handwashing behaviour, and hand hygiene compliance.
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
-
-
Avcılar
-
Istanbul, Avcılar, Turkey (Türkiye), 34320
- Aşkin Selvi
-
-
Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Child
- Adult
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
Nurses who volunteered to participate in the study. Nurses who were actively working in the specified patient care units.
Exclusion Criteria:
Nurses who had received any hand hygiene training other than general orientation within the previous year.
Nurses with a history of epilepsy or seizures. Nurses with neurological or vision-related disorders that could interfere with the use of a VR headset.
Nurses with motion sickness that could interfere with the use of a VR headset.
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Other
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: experimental group
Participants in the experimental group received standard hand hygiene training followed by the virtual reality (VR) hand hygiene simulation.
The VR simulation provided an immersive and interactive learning experience in which participants practiced hand hygiene in simulated clinical scenarios.
|
Participants in the experimental group received standard hand hygiene training followed by a virtual reality (VR) hand hygiene simulation.
The VR simulation provided an immersive and interactive learning environment in which nurses practiced hand hygiene in simulated clinical scenarios.
The simulation was designed to reinforce hand hygiene knowledge and appropriate hand hygiene practices through an interactive learning experience.
|
|
Other: control group
Participants in the control group received standard hand hygiene training only and did not participate in the virtual reality hand hygiene simulation.
|
Participants received standard hand hygiene training covering the principles and recommended practices of hand hygiene.
This training represented the standard educational intervention and did not include the virtual reality (VR) hand hygiene simulation.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Primary Outcome Measure - Title: Hand Hygiene Knowledge
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 2-month follow-up
|
Hand hygiene knowledge was assessed using a 20-item Knowledge Test developed by the researchers based on the content of the hand hygiene training programme.
The test was designed to assess nurses' level of knowledge regarding hand hygiene.
Content validity was evaluated using the Lawshe technique based on the opinions of eight experts, and the content validity index was 0.99.
Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.739 in the present study.
Higher scores indicate a higher level of hand hygiene knowledge.
|
Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 2-month follow-up
|
|
Handwashing Behaviour
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-training), immediately after the intervention (post-training), and at 2-month follow-up
|
Handwashing behaviour was assessed using the Scale for Assessment of Hand Washing Behaviour in the Frame of Theory of Planned Behaviour.
The scale consists of 46 items across eight subscales and assesses healthcare professionals' knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding handwashing.
Higher scores indicate stronger and more positive motivation toward handwashing.
Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.943 in this study.
|
Baseline (pre-training), immediately after the intervention (post-training), and at 2-month follow-up
|
|
Hand Hygiene Compliance
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-training), within approximately 3 days after the intervention, and at 2-month follow-up
|
Hand hygiene compliance was assessed by direct observation using the Hand Hygiene Observation Form based on the WHO Five Moments for Hand Hygiene: before touching a patient, after touching a patient, after body fluid exposure risk, before clean/aseptic procedures, and after touching patient surroundings.
Trained independent observers conducted the assessments, and each nurse was observed for 25 hand hygiene indications.
|
Baseline (pre-training), within approximately 3 days after the intervention, and at 2-month follow-up
|
Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: AŞKIN SELVİ, Assistant Professor, İstanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Turkey
Publications and helpful links
General Publications
- Clack, L., Hirt, C., Kunz, A., Sax, H. 2021. "Experiential training of hand hygiene using virtual reality. recent advances in technologies for ınclusive well-being", 196: 31-42. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-59608-8_3.
- Eichel VM, Brandt C, Brandt J, Jabs JM, Mutters NT. Is virtual reality suitable for hand hygiene training in health care workers? Evaluating an application for acceptability and effectiveness. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2022 Jun 25;11(1):91. doi: 10.1186/s13756-022-01127-6.
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Actual)
Study Completion (Actual)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- İUC_ASELVİ_001
- 124S279 (Other Identifier: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
IPD Plan Description
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
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