The Use of Simulated Participant and Virtual Reality Simulation to Enhance Nursing Students' Communication Skills in "End of Life Care" - A Single-Arm Repeated Measures Study

Background: Increasing demand for palliative care necessitates effective training for nursing students in end-of-life (EOL) and advanced care planning (ACP). Conventional teaching methods often fall short. Methods: A single-arm pre-post design involved 219 nursing students in VR and SP simulations. Quantitative measures and qualitative feedback were obtained. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant improvement post-intervention ( p < 0.001). Qualitative feedback highlighted realism, interactivity, and skill development. Challenges included emotional intensity and scenario repetition. Conclusions: Combining virtual reality (VR) and simulated participant (SP) simulation significantly enhances nursing students' confidence and communication for end-of-life (EOL) conversations, offering a realistic educational experience. Further research is recommended in understanding this teaching method.