The Effectiveness of Virtual Patient Simulation Versus Peer Simulation in Providing Sexual Counseling During Pregnancy

The Effectiveness of Virtual Patient Simulation Versus Peer Simulation in Enhancing Attitudes, Beliefs, and Skills in Providing Sexual Counseling During Pregnancy

The aim of this study is to compare, in a multidimensional manner, the effectiveness of different educational methods-virtual patient simulation and peer simulation-in improving sexual counseling skills during pregnancy among nursing faculty students.

The study will evaluate three different training methods: virtual patient simulation, peer simulation conducted in a virtual environment, and face-to-face peer simulation. To determine the effectiveness of peer simulation and virtual patient simulation in sexual health counseling, multimodal data collection and analysis methods will be used. These methods will contribute to the development of counseling skills by examining in detail the verbal and non-verbal communication elements exhibited by participants during their interactions with virtual patients and peers. Throughout the research process, students' demographic characteristics, sexual attitudes and beliefs, sexual counseling skills, learning satisfaction and self-confidence levels, opinions on system usability, eye-tracking data, and body movements will be analyzed.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pregnancy; Sexuality
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: virtual patient simulation; Other: peer simulation conducted in a virtual environment; Other: face-to-face peer simulation

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 51
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Altındağ
    • Ankara, Altındağ, Turkey (Türkiye), 06230
      • Ankara University Faculty of Nursing

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having the ability to provide care for pregnant women - Providing informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having suspended enrollment or taken a leave of absence from education.
• Having received formal education aimed at developing sexual counseling skills.
• Wearing glasses (as it may interfere with the use of wearable eye-tracking systems).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: virtual patient simulation group	Other: virtual patient simulation; Students in this group are expected to provide sexual counseling to a virtual patient model following theoretical training. In this context, a virtual patient model has been developed with whom the students will engage for the counseling process.
Experimental: peer simulation conducted in a virtual environment group	Other: peer simulation conducted in a virtual environment; Students in this group are expected to provide sexual counseling to their peers in a virtual environment following theoretical training. In the virtual peer simulation, students will see the same background displayed in the virtual patient simulation; however, instead of interacting with a virtual patient, they will connect with a peer via an online platform to conduct the counseling session.
Experimental: face-to-face peer simulation group	Other: face-to-face peer simulation; Students in this group are expected to provide sexual counseling to their peers following theoretical training. In the peer simulation, students will conduct their sessions in a communication skills laboratory designed to resemble a clinical consultation room.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sexual Attitudes and Beliefs	Students' sexual attitudes and beliefs will be assessed using the the sexual attitudes and belief survey. This scale is a six-point Likert-type scale, with scores ranging from a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 72. Higher scores indicate more negative attitudes and beliefs toward sexual care.	immediately before the training-immediately after the training
Learning Satisfaction and Self-Confidence	Learning satisfaction and self-confidence will be measured using the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale. This scale is a five-point Likert-type scale, with responses ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Higher scores reflect greater student satisfaction and self-confidence in learning.	immediately after the training
Sexual Counseling Skills	Students' sexual counseling skills will be assessed using the Sexual Counseling Skills Assessment Form. This form is developed based on the BETTER, PLISSIT, Ex-PLISSIT, and One-to-One models, and it covers the entire counseling process from initiation to conclusion. Each item is scored as 0 (not demonstrated) or 1 (demonstrated). The total score ranges from 0 to 34, with higher scores indicating a higher level of skill. The form will be completed while students simulate their counseling skills.	During simulation
System Usability Opinions	Students' opinions regarding system usability will be assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS). The SUS is a 10-item instrument scored on a five-point Likert scale. Scores range from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 100. Higher scores indicate higher perceived usability of the system.	immediately after the training
Eye Tracking	Eye tracking parameters in the study will be assessed using a wearable eye-tracking system. This device will analyze the areas of focus during students' interactions with virtual patients and peers. The analysis of gaze points and eye movements will help evaluate the distribution of attention during communication.	During simulation
Body Movements	Body movements will be evaluated using a motion tracking device. These motion detection systems will analyze body language to assess participants' capacity to establish effective connections with virtual patients and peers. This method aims to evaluate participants' ability to use gestures and body language effectively to build strong relationships with patients.	During simulation

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ankara University
• Collaborators: University of Delaware

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 28, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 27, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): June 27, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 22, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 29, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality
• Other Study ID Numbers: 03.03.2025/05-87

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No