Effects of Blended Learning with Virtual Reality-Problem Based Learning(VR-PBL) in the Clinical Practice of Child and Adolescent Nursing

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of blended learning with Virtual Reality-Problem Based Learning (VR-PBL) on nursing students' problem-solving abilities, learning flow, selfefficacy, and critical thinking ability in the clinical practice of child and adolescent (pediatrics) Nursing.A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used.The study participants were 77 nursing students (38 in the experimental group and 39 in the control group) from the G metropolitan city in South Korea The experimental group received blended learning with VR-PBL, which was scheduled, while the control group received case-based learning.This study was conducted from June 17, 2023, to October 18, 2024.The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, -test, Fisher's exact test, and an independent t-test using SPSS/WIN 22.0.Before-and-after differences between the two groups were statistically significant in problem-solving abilities(t=-4.49,p<.001), learning flow(t=1.98,p<.001), self-efficacy(t=-5.95,p<.001), and critical thinking ability(t=-1.34,p<.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group.Based on the findings, PBL education using virtual reality was an efficient and useful educational strategy in clinical practice education, furthermore, it was judged to be valid as a convergence teaching and learning method that can provide theoretical and practical education to learners in an integrated manner.