A crucial factor influencing the quality of life of patients with breast cancer is marital intimacy, which, along with emotional support, helps them overcome difficult treatments. This study aimed to elucidate and confirm the effects of body change stress and sexual function in marital intimacy. We conducted a cross-sectional survey on 190 patients with breast cancer. They completed the breast-impact of treatment scale, female sexual function index, and revised dyadic adjustment scale. The patients’ average age was 46.27 (6.84), and the age distribution ranged from 25 to 59 years. These variables showed statistically significant differences according to the chemotherapy period (P ​< ​0.05) and type of surgery (P ​< ​0.05). Body change stress negatively correlated with sexual function (r ​= ​−0.523, P ​< ​0.001) and marital intimacy (r ​= ​−0.545, P ​< ​0.001). Sexual function positively correlated with marital intimacy (r ​= ​0.363, P ​< ​0.001). Marital intimacy was affected by the changes in body stress (β ​= ​−0.473, P ​< ​0.001). Sexual function did not affect marital intimacy (β ​= ​0.084, P ​= ​0.289). Changes in body stress and chemotherapy treatment should be considered in patients with breast cancer for better marital intimacy. Intervention strategies that consider the characteristics discussed could improve marital intimacy for patients with breast cancer.

Core nursing procedures are essential for nursing students to master because of their high frequency in nursing practice. However, the experience of performing procedures in actual hospital settings decreased during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, necessitating the development of various contents to supplement procedural training. This study investigated the effects of a straight catheterization program utilizing an immersive virtual reality simulation on nursing students' procedural performance, self-confidence, and immersion. The study employed a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design with 29 participants in the experimental group and 25 in the control group. The experimental group received training through a computer-based immersive virtual reality program installed in a virtual reality hospital, with three weekly sessions over 3 weeks. The control group underwent straight catheterization using manikin models. The research findings validated that virtual reality–based straight catheterization education significantly improved students' procedural skills, self-confidence, and flow state. Therefore, limited practical training can be effectively supplemented by immersive virtual reality programs.