Enhancing Practical Competence in Physical Assessment Through Digital Video Feedback: A Teaching Practice in the Physical Examination and Assessment Course

Physical examination and assessment are fundamental competencies in nursing education and clinical practice. However, undergraduate nursing students may experience difficulties in mastering complex physical assessment procedures because of limited practice time, insufficient individualized feedback, and limited clinical experience.

Based on Bandura's Social Learning Theory, this study incorporates a digital video feedback strategy into an undergraduate physical examination and assessment course. The intervention emphasizes observation, practice, feedback, reflection, and behavioral modification.

Students assigned to the intervention group will record their performance of selected physical assessment procedures using the SimCapture digital platform. Recorded performances will be reviewed by peers and instructors, who will provide structured feedback based on standardized physical assessment evaluation criteria. Students will review the feedback, modify their performance, and subsequently repeat the recording and feedback process.

Four course units will be included in the intervention: head and neck/lymphatic assessment, musculoskeletal assessment, neurological assessment I, and neurological assessment II. The control group will initially receive conventional classroom instruction and independent practice. For educational equity, students in the control group will subsequently receive the digital video feedback activity after the planned comparison assessment.

Quantitative outcomes include physical assessment skill performance, learning strategies and motivation, learning motivation, and anxiety. Students' experiences with the digital video feedback strategy will also be explored using course evaluation and qualitative feedback.