Impact of Real-Time Feedback in Virtual Aseptic Technique Simulator for Basic Nursing Education

Aseptic technique represents a fundamental but challenging skill for nursing students to master. Nursing education is increasingly accepting virtual reality for educational use. In this study, we developed a virtual aseptic technique simulator using real-time feedback by adopting basic wound care. We designed a real-time feedback system to alert users to their own actions, prompting them to adjust their behaviors. We conducted a comparative evaluation using virtual simulators with and without feedback. The subjective evaluation was then obtained by the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Engagement Scale from nursing students and nurses. We also analyzed performance and eye-related features. Our simulator shows ordinary SUS scores and great engagement scores, and physiological analysis suggests that real-time feedback increases cognitive load. Therefore, as per our results, the simulator assists nursing learners in thinking and behavior modification, facilitating rapid acquisition of aseptic technique through repeated practice.