The Impact of Watching Movies on the Communication Skills of Nursing Students: A Pilot Study from Turkey

Abstract

the production and making sense of knowledge [1,2]. Since the nursing profession is based on human relations and interaction, the effectiveness of nursing care depends on an effective communication between nurses , patients and healthy people. To provide effective nursing care, nurses' ability to express themselves is as important as their observation and comprehension of the verbal and non-verbal expressions of patients and healthy people [3,4]. The main objective of nursing education is to have students learn nursing practices and the professional philosophy of nursing. However, students also need to acquire specific skills such as building effective interpersonal communication and relationships, helping and consultation since nursing is a profession that serves people [5,6]. Undergraduate nursing students take courses focusing on communication. These courses enable them to increase their self-confidence and self-respect, improving them personally and professionally [7]. A review of the relevant literature indicates that skills training use a variety of methods including demonstrations , role playing, simulation and video screenings [8-13]. Students can gain permanent knowledge from traditional verbal lectures and by watching movies with relevant themes. Movies help students develop, not only professionally, but also socially. Movies cover a wide range of topics from science, visual arts and history to families in crisis, social solidarity, drug use and human rights, since these are all social phenomena that occur amongst the society [14]. This allows movies to be used in a wide range of contexts both as a primary and as a supplementary resource [15]. Some studies have proven that watching movies Abstract Communication skills can be improved in a variety of ways at any time of life. It is known in our country and in the world that watching films has a positive effect on individuals. In addition to traditional verbal lectures teaching skills to be learned by students, watching movies is thought of as contributing to the acquisition of permanent knowledge. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the effect of watching movies on nursing students' communication skills. The research sample includes 20 student volunteers at Ak-deniz University's Antalya School of Health who conformed to the criteria for inclusion. The research was carried out with one group as an experimental study with a pretest and a post-test. The data was obtained using a 7-question data collection form, a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Communication Skills Rating Scale. The Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed-Ranks Test and the Mann Whitney U test were used to evaluate the data. It was determined that 70% of the participants are male, and 45% are twenty-years-old. Of the students, 70% are in their second year, 60% do not live with their family, but with friends, and 85% think their own communication skills are adequate. After the five week intervention, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found between the pretest and post-test scores of communication skills of the participants. The research confirmed that the students' communication skills improved. Watching movies and discussing them significantly enhances the teaching and development of communication skills.