Usability of a Virtual Reality Application to Educate Family Caregivers of Children With Asthma

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) is being used to educate health professions students, however, little is known about the use of VR in the context of providing education to caregivers. After the initial development of a VR prototype, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability and user experience of the Asthma Academy App – an app designed to educate caregivers on how to manage a child's asthma attack. Thirty-eight doctor of nursing practice students participated in the alpha-testing. This study used a quantitative, descriptive design employing the System Usability Scale and several open-ended questions. The mean score on the SUS was 80.33 (SD 12.97) indicating high usability. The Asthma Academy App© prototype was perceived as easy to use, interactive, and user-friendly. Virtual Reality may be an innovative way to advance family caregiver education efforts related to asthma management.