Metaverse

This study will develop and evaluate a metaverse-based infection control room of errors education program (META-ICR) for nursing students. A metaverse is an interactive, three-dimensional online environment. In META-ICR, students use a computer and mouse to explore a virtual patient room through an avatar. The study will compare this program with a physical patient room arranged with the same infection control situations. The study will include approximately 110 first-year nursing students at Çankırı Karatekin University in Türkiye. Students will be assigned by chance to either the META-ICR group or the physical room of errors group. Both groups will examine the same patient scenario and identify appropriate and inappropriate infection control practices. Topics will include hand hygiene, protective equipment, isolation precautions, handling of clean and contaminated materials, waste and linen management, and urinary drainage systems. Students in the META-ICR group will record their observations and care decisions through a web-based interface. Students in the physical room group will use paper forms. Both groups will receive feedback with the same educational content and participate in a 15-minute guided discussion after the activity. Activities will take place under similar supervision in university laboratory settings. The study will compare infection control knowledge, perceptions of the metaverse, and satisfaction with learning between the groups. Knowledge will be assessed before education, immediately after the educational session and guided discussion, and four weeks later to assess retention. Metaverse perceptions will be assessed before and immediately after education. Learning satisfaction will be assessed after education. All research questionnaires and knowledge tests will be completed on paper in both groups. The findings will help determine how an interactive virtual room compares with a physical room of errors for teaching infection control to nursing students.

Extended Reality (XR)-Assisted CT Localization of Pulmonary Nodules

This study aims to examine the effect of a gamified, metaverse-based education program on nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding ventrogluteal intramuscular injection. Intramuscular injection is a commonly used nursing skill that requires accurate anatomical knowledge and correct technique to ensure patient safety. The ventrogluteal site is considered a safe injection site; however, nursing students often report limited knowledge and confidence in its use. In this study, nursing students will be assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive a gamified metaverse-based educational program designed to teach ventrogluteal site identification using the V method and the correct steps of intramuscular injection. The control group will receive traditional education using standard teaching methods. Data will be collected before and after the educational intervention using a knowledge test and a learning attitude scale. The results of this study are expected to provide evidence on the effectiveness of metaverse-based and gamified education approaches in nursing education and to support the development of safe and innovative learning environments for nursing students.

Reality (XR)-Assisted CT-Guided Localization