The Effect of the Practice of Donning and Doffing Level D Personal Protective Equipment Using Augmented Reality on Nursing Students: A Mixed Method Research

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of practice of donning and doffing level D personal protective equipment (PPE) based on augmented reality (AR) on the knowledge and performance confidence, practical immersion, practical satisfaction, and practical experience of nursing students.Methods: This mixed-method study included 28 participants in the experimental group and 28 in the control group in C city. The intervention in the experimental group was practice of donning and doffing level D PPE based on AR and the control group received video-based training. Quantitative data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS program, and qualitative data were subjected to content analysis.Results: There were significant differences in performance confidence (t=3.17, <i>p</i>=.002) and practice satisfaction (z=-2.13, <i>p</i>=.033), but not in knowledge (z=-0.90, <i>p</i>=.366) and practice immersion (t=1.71, <i>p</i>=.093) regarding PPE. In the experience of nursing students who participated in AR-based practice, the facilitating factors were “good concentration in practice,” “can use the technology accurately,” “the skills remain in memory for a long time,” and “the practice was interesting and fun.” The obstacles to AR-based practice were “using smart glasses to watch AR content was uncomfortable” and “it was difficult to adapt to AR-based content.”Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we suggest applying AR-based practice in practical education to increase nursing students' performance confidence and practice satisfaction.