Virtual asthma home environmental assessment: Development and validation of a training simulation

Home environmental asthma assessment and trigger management are critical in pediatric asthma care, particularly in underserved rural areas. However, in-person home assessments are often logistically, financially, and culturally challenging. This study developed a video-based virtual simulation designed to train nursing students and community health workers (CHWs) to conduct remote (virtual) asthma home environmental assessments. It was developed at Samford University’s Experiential Learning and Simulation Center, guided by the NLN/Jeffries Simulation Theory. The authors established clear learning objectives, designed the simulation, created a scenario, and incorporated structured pre- and post-simulation debriefings. Key environmental triggers, selected from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Home Environmental Assessment Checklist, included dust, mold, cigarette smoke, cleaning supply irritants, pets, and pests, all of which were represented in the simulation lab. The recorded simulation was distributed to simulation education partners and practicing asthma educators (AE-Cs) for expert evaluation using a standardized feedback form to refine the program. The simulation was developed and evaluated between January and May 2024. A total of 12 experts in nursing education, asthma education, and simulation reviewed the simulation. Their average ratings were: learning objectives 4.73, content clarity 4.95, engagement 4.53, realism 4.65, effectiveness in promoting learning 4.8, and technology utilization 4.9. The overall evaluation score was 4.9 out of 5. Expert evaluation indicated high content validity and strong perceived educational value for preparing nursing students and CHWs to conduct remote asthma home environmental assessments. Further research is needed to evaluate learner outcomes. The virtual simulation provides a cost-effective, scalable solution for rural asthma management education.Nursing students and community health workers can benefit from skills-building opportunities that focus on environmental assessments and patient education.Emphasizing communication skills and interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for building trust in rural communities, improving asthma management outcomes, and reducing emergency room visits.Incorporating scenarios that reflect socioeconomic diversity and culturally specific beliefs in future simulations will better prepare learners to provide equitable, culturally competent asthma care. The virtual simulation provides a cost-effective, scalable solution for rural asthma management education. Nursing students and community health workers can benefit from skills-building opportunities that focus on environmental assessments and patient education. Emphasizing communication skills and interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for building trust in rural communities, improving asthma management outcomes, and reducing emergency room visits. Incorporating scenarios that reflect socioeconomic diversity and culturally specific beliefs in future simulations will better prepare learners to provide equitable, culturally competent asthma care.