Clinical trial on nurse training through virtual reality simulation of an operating room: assessing satisfaction and outcomes

Introduction Virtual reality (VR) provides a firsthand active learning experience through varying degrees of immersion. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of VR as a potential tool for training operating room nurses to perform thoracic surgery procedures. Methods This is an open parallel-group randomized clinical trial. One group received basic formation followed by an assessment module. The experimental group received the same basic formation, followed by thoracic surgery training and an assessment module. Results Fifty-six nurses participated in the study (51 females), with a mean age of 41.6 years. Participants achieved a median evaluation mode score of 480 points (IQR = 32 points). The experimental group (520 points) achieved an overall higher score than the control group (440 points; P = .04). Regarding age, women in the second quartile of age among the participants (35-41 years) achieved significantly better results than the rest (P = .04). When we evaluated the results based on the moment of practice, exercises performed in the last 10 minutes obtained better results than those performed in the first 10 minutes (1064 points versus 554 points; P < .001). Regarding adverse effects blurred vision was the most frequent. The overall satisfaction rating with the experience was 8.5 out of 10. Conclusion Virtual reality is a useful tool for training operating room nurses. Clinical trial with ISRCTN16864726 registered number.