The effects of using virtual patients on the history-taking ability of nursing interns: A non-randomized controlled study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the SYSU-NEP virtual patients (VPs) on the history-taking ability and self-efficacy of nursing interns.

Background: An easy to use, freely accessible and objective training software program on WeChat named Sun Yat-sen University Nursing Education Platform (SYSU-NEP) was developed to help nursing students improve their history-taking skills.

Design: This was a non-randomized controlled study.

Methods: A total of 90 nursing interns (44 in the intervention group and 46 in the control group), who practiced in internal medicine departments at a single teaching hospital, were recruited between July 2017 and December 2018. The data collected comprised demographic and academic data, Nursing History-taking Assessment Scale (NHTAS) and Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES) scores. The chi-square test, t test and Wilcoxon test were used to test the differences in the variables between the two groups. The t test or Wilcoxon test was used to compare the differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention NHTAS and ASES scores in each group and to compare the changes (post-intervention - pre-intervention) in NHTAS and ASES scores between the control and intervention groups.

Results: Both the control and intervention groups had higher post-intervention NHTAS scores compared with their pre-intervention scores (control group: 83.50 VS 61.00, P < 0.001; intervention group: 106.00 VS 77.00, P < 0.001). However, the intervention group had a much greater improvement in the NHTAS score than the control group (29.00 VS 9.00, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the ASES score within groups (control group: 80.50 VS 80.00, P = 0.292; intervention group: 81.50 VS 79.00, P = 0.979) or between groups (2.00 VS 0.00, P = 0.430). The most frequently used VPs were associated with the respiratory, gastroenterology and cardiovascular systems, accounting for 70.4% among all VP cases.

Conclusions: The SYSU-NEP VPs can improve the history-taking ability of nursing interns. They can provide autonomous, repeatable training opportunities for nursing interns and help them prepare well for real clinical encounters.

Keywords: History-taking; Nursing interns; Virtual patients; WeChat®.