The development and effects of a fall prevention educational program using virtual reality for nurses in integrated nursing care units

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop and examine the effects of a fall prevention educational program using virtual reality for nurses in integrated nursing care units to enhance their knowledge of fall prevention, attitude toward fall prevention, self-efficacy for preventing falls, fall prevention behavior, learning satisfaction, and simulation design evaluations. Methods: This study was developed based on the ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) model. The educational contents and methods were determined based on a needs analysis conducted through a literature review, surveys on educational needs, and interviews, and content validity was verified by a group of experts. The participants were 40 nurses. The experimental group (n=20) received the virtual reality program, while the control group (n=20) received an on-the-job training video. Data were collected from March 3 to April 14, 2023, and analyzed using the IBM SPSS/WIN 27.0 program with a chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, independent t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, generalized estimating equations, and a repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group post-intervention in knowledge of fall prevention (x2=6.06, p=.048), self-efficacy for preventing falls (x2=22.89, p<.001), fall prevention behavior (F=3.29, p=.043), and learning satisfaction (Z=-3.03, p=.004). Conclusion: The fall prevention educational program using virtual reality for nurses enhanced nursing expertise through improved knowledge of fall prevention, self-efficacy for preventing falls, and fall prevention behavior and is expected to be utilized as basic data for patient safety nursing education in integrated nursing care unit environments.