The Effect of Simulation-Based Training on Nursing Students’ Communication Skill, Self-Efficacy and Clinical Competence for Nursing Practice

Abstract

Background: Simulation-based training is a new strategy in teaching that gives the students good opportunities to learn and apply what they learn in nursing care safely. Aim: This study conducted to evaluate the effects of simulation-based training on nursing students’ communication skill, self-efficacy and clinical competence in practice. Subjects and Methods: Quiz-experimental design was used in this study (pre-posttest intervention), it was carried out on 100 nursing students first semester in 2019 using low and high-fidelity simulators. This study was carried out at College of Applied Medical Sciences-Bshia University. Data Collection: demographic data, communication skill, self-efficacy and clinical competence questionnaires. Analysis is done by SPSS version 20 software. Results: Participants who received the simulation-based training, showed statistical significant improvement in communication skill, self-efficacy, and clinical competence scores after participation in the simulation program (t = −32.64, p = 0.001; t = −19.9, p = 0.001; 16.4, p = 0.001). Also, there are significant relation between gender and clinical competency (t = 2.768, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Simulation-based training in medical courses is effective in enhancing communication skill, self-efficacy and clinical competence. Multiple-patient simulations as a teaching-learning strategy in the nursing curriculum are highly recommended.