Development and usability evaluation of training equipment for syringe-based wound irrigation education

Wound irrigation is the process by which an irrigating solution is delivered to a wound site at constant pressure to remove bacteria, necrotic tissue, and foreign materials. Maintaining an appropriate pressure according to wound characteristics is essential for effective wound irrigation. The purpose of this study was to develop training equipment to help maintain appropriate wound irrigation pressure during syringe-based wound irrigation, and to evaluate its usability by experts for educational applications. This study developed training equipment for effective syringe-based wound irrigation education and conducted a usability evaluation with an expert group. Training equipment was developed according to the five stages of the instructional design model. The developed equipment was evaluated by nine clinical nurses and nine nursing professors using the System Usability Scale (SUS) to assess system usability. Additional expert feedback regarding areas of improvement was also collected. The training equipment developed in this study consisted of an irrigation space, a pressure measurement component located beneath the irrigation space, and a monitor that allowed learners to check the average and maximum pressures applied during wound irrigation in real time. A mean SUS score of 85 from 18 experts was achieved for the training equipment aimed at maintaining an appropriate wound irrigation pressure. In contrast, the mean score given by the nursing professors responsible for education was 88. The experts indicated that, although the training equipment demonstrated high educational usefulness and strong applicability to evidence-based practice, improvements in the hardware components, enhanced user convenience, and further development of the educational content to better reflect clinical practice are desired. This study developed training equipment designed to maintain appropriate wound irrigation pressure for syringe-based wound irrigation education, and confirmed its applicability in both clinical and educational settings through expert evaluation. By visualizing and sensorially concretizing the abstract concept of wound irrigation pressure for education purposes, this study increased awareness of the need for systematic education to support evidence-based practice.