Enhancing psychomotor skills in manual blood pressure measurement: The impact of a 3D printed assistive device on nursing/midwifery education.

INTRODUCTION: Manual blood pressure (BP) measurement requires coordinated psychomotor skills and focused auditory interpretation. When these tasks are performed poorly, accuracy may be compromised, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis and adverse patient outcomes. METHODS: This single-arm usability and feasibility study evaluated a 3D-printed assistive device designed to hold the stethoscope diaphragm in place. The study examined whether the device could support psychomotor skill development in manual BP measurement among first-year nursing/midwifery students (n = 144). Students used the device during their clinical skills sessions. Usability was assessed through questionnaire responses and structured observations. RESULTS: The questionnaire demonstrated acceptable internal consistency following item reduction (Cronbach's α = 0.74). Sampling adequacy was supported by the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure (KMO = 0.74), and Bartlett's test confirmed factorability (χ2 = 288.31, p < 0.001). Two factors were extracted, explaining 62.4% of the total variance in the initial solution. Task analysis identified both motor and cognitive components of BP measurement supported by the device. Most students (74.5%) rated the device as very useful for learning BP measurement. The device improved perceived psychomotor performance and accuracy in identifying systolic and diastolic BP values. CONCLUSION: The assistive device was perceived as helpful in reducing motor-related challenges and supporting concentration during BP assessment. These findings suggest that such devices may facilitate skill acquisition in novice learners by reducing cognitive load and easing coordination demands in manual BP measurement.