Abstract:

Objective To preliminarily evaluate the teaching effectiveness of a virtual simulation system for preoperative and postoperative nursing care of patients with colorectal cancer. Methods A virtual simulation system covering the full care continuum of diagnosis，treatment，nursing care，and rehabilitation was developed，consisting of 8 modules，13 core knowledge points，and 11 interactive steps. The system included a learning mode and an assessment mode，and supported dynamic interaction，process monitoring，and diversified assessment. A total of 64 undergraduate nursing students from the 2022 cohort were randomly assigned to two groups. After completing the same theoretical instruction and basic laboratory training，the control group（n=32） received conventional integrated practical teaching，whereas the experimental group（n=32） received integrated practical teaching supported by the virtual simulation platform. A theoretical examination，the Clinical Reasoning Ability Scale，the Clinical Communication Ability Scale，and the Self-Directed Learning Ability Scale were administered before and after the integrated practical teaching，and platform usage data were collected from the experimental group. Results After the intervention，the experimental group achieved significantly higher theoretical examination scores than the control group（P<0.001）. The total clinical communication ability score and the scores for the two dimensions of establishing harmonious relationships and sensitive listening were also higher in the experimental group（all P<0.05）. Within the experimental group，significant improvements were observed in the total score of clinical reasoning ability，the dimensions of critical thinking and systematic thinking，together with the total self-directed learning ability score and the information literacy dimension（all P<0.05）. Conclusion Compared with conventional integrated practical teaching，the full-process task-driven virtual simulation system for preoperative and postoperative nursing care of patients with colorectal cancer showed certain advantages in promoting knowledge integration and application and enhancing clinical communication ability among undergraduate nursing students. It may also support training in clinical reasoning and self-directed learning abilities，which can serve as a valid supplementary teaching tool for traditional nursing practical teaching.

Key words: Education, Nursing, Virtual Simulation, Colorectal Cancer, Preoperative Care, Postoperative Care, Full-Process Task-Driven Teaching