Enhancing Nursing Students' Empathy and Learning in Parkinson's Disease Through High-Fidelity Simulation and Blended Learning

Enhancing Nursing Students' Empathy and Learning in Parkinson's Disease Through High-Fidelity Simulation and Blended Learning: A Randomised Controlled Trial

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal Parkinson's disease-focused intervention on empathy levels and perceived theoretical-practical learning in third-year undergraduate nursing students.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Will students receiving the multimodal intervention demonstrate significantly higher levels of clinical empathy compared to those receiving standard simulation-based workshops?
• Will the intervention significantly improve awareness of Parkinson's disease (PD) quality of life and the internalisation of the patient's lived experience?

Researchers will compare the experimental group, which receives a multimodal approach including blended learning and a simulated home environment, to a control group receiving standard simulation workshops on physiological aging to see if the multimodal strategy offers superior outcomes in clinical awareness and empathy development.

Participants will:

• Attend a two-hour initial theoretical session regarding neurodegenerative disorders and nursing care.
• Complete digital blended-learning micro-capsules covering PD pathophysiology and authentic patient testimonials (Experimental Group only).
• Engage in high-fidelity physical simulation using GERT® suits to perform activities of daily living (e.g., dressing, eating, and walking) within either a recreated domestic environment or a standard classroom setting.
• Participate in a structured debriefing session focused on reflective analysis of the emotional and functional impact of Parkinson's symptoms.
• Complete validated self-administered instruments during pretest and posttest phases to measure empathy, satisfaction, and perception of learning.

This study describes a randomized controlled trial designed to address the urgent need for specialized nursing education as the global prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) continues to rise. Researchers aim to evaluate how a multimodal intervention-combining digital learning with immersive simulation-affects the clinical empathy and theoretical-practical understanding of third-year nursing students.

The challenge of Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by an unpredictable array of motor and non-motor symptoms. As the global burden of PD is projected to double by 2040, healthcare systems require nurses who possess not only technical skills but also a deep, humanized understanding of the patient's lived experience. Traditional educational methods often leave a gap in preparing students for the specific challenges of person-centered neurodegenerative care.

Study Design and Participants The study will involve 84 third-year nursing students from the University of Cadiz in Spain. These participants will be randomly assign to either a control group or an experimental group. While both groups will receive two hours of initial theoretical instruction on neurodegenerative disorders, their practical training will differ significantly.

The Multimodal Intervention

The experimental group will participate in a comprehensive, high-fidelity simulation experience designed to maximize psychological fidelity. This multimodal approach includes three key components:

• Blended-Learning Capsules: Students will access digital modules featuring authentic patient testimonials to provide a real-world context for PD pathophysiology.
• GERT® Geriatric Suits: Students will wear specialized suits designed to physically simulate the motor limitations and tremors associated with PD.
• Simulated Home Environment: Unlike the control group, who will practice in a standard classroom, the experimental group will perform activities of daily living-such as eating, dressing, and walking-within a room designed to look like a domestic home.

Following these activities, all students will participate in a structured debriefing, a reflective session where they will analyze the emotional and functional impact of the symptoms they will experience.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Third-year undergraduate nursing students enrolled in Geriatric Nursing subject from a Faculty of Nursing of the University of Cadiz (Spain).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who do not wish to take part in the study.