Desenvolvimento e validação de software para apoio ao ensino-aprendizagem sobre diagnósticos de enfermagem

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate a software to help nursing students improve their diagnostic abilities. Seven steps were followed: scope definition, planning, prototype development, prototype validation, and software implementation. The first step dealt with the definition of the target audience and the software use cases. The second step consisted on the analysis and adaptation of the software content, which included 13 clinical cases related to the NANDA-I domains. Planning, system layout definition, and resources verification were also carried out in the second step. The third step was established by setting up two different survey prototypes in Portuguese and English, that were created using a tool for creating electronic forms available on the Internet. In the fourth step, the prototypes were validated by 13 judges with experience in the nursing diagnoses field and tested by nursing students from two universities: one is located in the city of Fortaleza (n = 17), and the other in the city of Chicago (n = 56). The fifth step was the creation of the Wise Nurse software. The sixth step consisted in the software validation by 24 judges that evaluated technical aspects and the content of the system using Likert scales. The seventh and final step consisted of implementation and final testing of the software by 37 students from the institution located in Fortaleza, which were randomly assigned to an intervention and a control group. Students from both groups participated in a pre-test, solved the 13 clinical cases (using the software and using a traditional methodology), and answered a post-test with a similar level of difficulty and content to the pre- test. Students in the intervention group also evaluated the software usability through the System Usability Scale , a scale composed of ten items that show the user's vision of the system. The results from the prototype testing showed that the aim of creating a questionnaire with an intermediate level of difficulty was reached based on the hit percentage that ranged from 60% to 70%. It was also found that the students had more difficulty with identifying defining characteristics and nursing diagnoses than in identifying related factors. The software validation showed that the technical aspects and the software content were adequate, but some changes had to be made based on the suggestions of the judges. In the last step, the software effectiveness as a learning support tool was reached, based on the results of the pretest and posttest. N o significant differences between intervention and control group were found with respect to the identification of the key elements from the clinical cases. Finally, in both groups, there was a significant improvement in the level of knowledge. The software usability was considered good based on the obtained usability score of 83.75. It is concluded that the program has achieved its main objective and is fit for use