VR Simulation-Based Implanted Port Catheter Training in Nursing Students

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Simulation-Based Implanted Port Catheter Training on Knowledge, Learning Satisfaction and Motivation in Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Implanted port catheter care is a critical clinical skill in oncology nursing, requiring accurate knowledge, aseptic technique, safe procedural practice, and early recognition of potential complications. This parallel group randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality simulation-based implanted port catheter training in undergraduate nursing students. Eligible second-year nursing students will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. All students will receive a two-hour traditional implanted port catheter training session in the classroom setting. In addition to traditional training, students in the intervention group will receive virtual reality simulation-based training consisting of two scenarios: safe implanted port catheter access and extravasation/complication management. The control group will receive only traditional training.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Nursing Education; Clinical Competence
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Virtual Reality Simulation-Based Implanted Port Catheter Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pinar Zorba Bahceli, PhD; Phone Number: +90 553 487 25 50; Email: pinarzorba85@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Hasan Onur Duman, RN; Phone Number: +90 534 449 88 83; Email: 6010036@bakircay.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Izmir, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Izmir Bakircay University
    • Contact: Pinar Zorba Bahceli, PhD; Phone Number: +90 553 487 25 50; Email: pinarzorba85@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being 18 years of age or older
• Being an undergraduate nursing student
• Having completed the Internal Medicine Nursing course
• Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study
• Providing written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having any communication barrier that may prevent participation in the study or completion of the study forms
• Having neck pain or neck injury severe enough to prevent head movement
• Having a visual problem that prevents safe use of the virtual reality application
• Experiencing severe nausea or dizziness during the virtual reality application
• Having a diagnosed history of epilepsy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Reality Simulation-Based Implanted Port Catheter Training Group; Nursing students in this group will receive a two-hour traditional implanted port catheter training session in the classroom setting. In addition to traditional training, they will receive virtual reality simulation-based implanted port catheter training consisting of two structured scenarios: safe implanted port catheter access and extravasation/complication management.	Behavioral: Virtual Reality Simulation-Based Implanted Port Catheter Training; The virtual reality simulation-based implanted port catheter training will be provided in addition to traditional classroom-based training. The VR training will be delivered individually using a Meta Quest 3 headset and will consist of two structured scenarios. The first scenario will focus on safe implanted port catheter access, line verification, flushing, dressing, and documentation. The second scenario will focus on recognition and management of suspected extravasation or related complications during an ongoing infusion. Each scenario is expected to last approximately 10 minutes, with a total VR training duration of approximately 20 minutes. The VR system will provide an interactive, standardized, and repeatable learning environment and will generate performance indicators related to students' procedural steps, critical errors, and complication management decisions.
No Intervention: Control Group; Nursing students in this group will receive only a two-hour traditional implanted port catheter training session in the classroom setting. They will not receive virtual reality simulation-based training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Implanted Port Catheter Knowledge Assessment Checklist Score	The primary outcome is the change in students' implanted port catheter knowledge score from baseline to immediately after training. Knowledge will be assessed using the Structured Implanted Port Catheter Knowledge Assessment Checklist. The outcome will be evaluated by comparing the change in knowledge score from baseline to after training between the intervention and control groups. Higher scores indicate a higher level of knowledge regarding implanted port catheter care and application.	Baseline, pre-intervention; immediately after the intervention
Change in Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale Score	Students' satisfaction and self-confidence related to the learning experience will be assessed after the intervention using the Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale. The satisfaction-related score will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Higher scores indicate higher levels of satisfaction and self-confidence in learning.	Baseline, pre-intervention; immediately after the intervention
Change in Instructional Materials Motivation Survey Score	Nursing students' motivation toward the instructional material will be assessed baseline and after training using the Instructional Materials Motivation Scale. Motivation scores will be compared between the intervention and control groups. Higher scores indicate higher motivation toward the instructional material.	Baseline, pre-intervention; immediately after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Implanted Port Catheter Application Performance Score	The implanted port catheter application performance score will be assessed only in the intervention group during the virtual reality simulation session. This score will be generated by the virtual reality system and will include performance indicators related to routine implanted port catheter application and extravasation/complication management. The score will reflect students' completion of procedural steps, critical safety actions, errors, and complication management decisions during the VR scenarios. This outcome will be analyzed as an intervention-group-specific secondary process outcome and will not be used for between-group effectiveness comparison because the control group will not be exposed to the virtual reality simulation environment. Higher scores indicate better implanted port catheter application performance in the VR simulation environment.	During the virtual reality simulation session, immediately after completion of each VR scenario

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Izmir Bakircay University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 21, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 4, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 28, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 21, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Virtual reality; Nursing students; Clinical skills; Simulation-based education; Implanted port catheter
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026/2823

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