The effects of a virtual learning environment compared with an individual handheld device on pharmacology knowledge acquisition, satisfaction and comfort ratings

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality is reported to improve post-intervention knowledge and skills outcomes of health professionals compared to traditional teaching methods or digital online media. However, providing equitable access to high quality virtual reality resources for large, diverse nursing and midwifery student cohorts within multi-campus settings remains challenging.

Objectives: This study compared the effect on student learning, satisfaction and comfort following exposure to a three-dimensional pharmacology artefact in a virtual facility (CAVE2™)¹ with viewing of the same artefact using a mobile handheld device with stereoscopic lenses attached.

Design: The study used a pretest-posttest design.

Setting: School of Nursing and Midwifery in a regional university in Southeast Queensland, Australia.

Participants: Two hundred and forty-nine second year undergraduate nursing and midwifery students.

Methods: Online multiple choice tests were deployed to measure knowledge acquisition. Self-reported satisfaction scores and comfort ratings were collected using questionnaires.

Results: Participants were not disadvantaged in terms of knowledge acquisition by using either CAVE2™ or the mobile handheld visualisation mode (P = 0.977). Significant differences in favour of the CAVE2™ environment were found in between students' satisfaction scores for clinical reasoning (P = 0.013) and clinical learning (P < 0.001) compared to the handheld mode, and there were no significant differences in their satisfaction with debriefing and reflective practice processes (P = 0.377) related to undertaking visualisation activities. A small number of students using handheld devices with stereoscopic lenses reported greater discomfort in relation to the visualisation that negatively impacted their learning (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Three-dimensional artefacts using mobile devices is promising in terms of cost-effectiveness and accessibility for students with restricted access to on-campus teaching modes.

Keywords: Distance education; Media in education; Mobile learning; Pedagogical issues; Virtual reality.