Effects of High-Fidelity Postpartum Care Management Simulation on Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental Design

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) and case study (CS) methods in managing postpartum care on nursing students' satisfaction and self-efficacy levels. Material and Methods: A quasi-experimental, pretest, and posttest comparison group design was used. It was conducted in a public university in west Türkiye with four-year nursing students (46 in the HFS group and 46 in the CS group). The Satisfaction Questionnaire, Self-Efficacy Scale, and Simulation Design Scale were utilized to gather data. The Postpartum Care Management Clinical Skills Checklist was used to assess postpartum care skills in the HFS group. Data were analyzed with the χ² test, Mann-Whitney U test, and repeated-measures Wilcoxon. Results: The HFS enhanced students' satisfaction levels. Simulation feedback/guided reflection and fidelity had scored higher than other simulation design features. Although the students' self-efficacy levels increased, there was no significant difference observed (p>0,05). Conclusion: The use of HFS has the potential to enhance student satisfaction with learning and can increase self-efficacy in performing postpartum nursing care skills. When creating scenarios and sessions for HFS, nurse educators need to be careful as it can impact student satisfaction. In order to conduct an effective simulation, it is crucial to incorporate debriefing sessions and strive for realism in the scenarios.