The use of simulation activity in classroom teaching to enhance students’ satisfaction and self-confidence in learning

Abstract

Background: Teaching a large class size in nursing education is always a challenge to teachers. The challenges may resulted in students do not get to know each other well, high absenteeism (Gibbs & Jenkins, 2014) and passive (Bigg & Tang, 2011). Additionally, large class teaching may also affect nursing students to bridge between theory and practice and eventually affect their confidence in real clinical practice (Flood & Robinia, 2014). Therefore, exploring other type of teaching strategies, e.g. integration simulation scenario into lecture are needed to minimize the challenges in large class teaching. The purpose of this study is to evaluate an interactive simulation teaching in (1) increase students’ satisfaction and (2) increase students’ confidence in clinical learning. Method: This study is an action research. All Bachelor of Nursing students enrolled in the Nursing Care of the Adult I Course (n=220) were invited to participate in the study and they were divided into 3 groups. Three students per group, whom were supervised by an Assistant Lecturer, was assigned to take care a simulated patient with acute asthmatic attack. Other students were the observers through a real-time broadcasting from the AV system and they were required to choose the nursing action, via the mentimeter, to the simulated patient who had been preset with some clinical problems. The vital parameter of the simulated patient would be changed according to observers’ decision. After the simulation activity, the principal investigator provided the theoretical input related to asthma disease followed by a debriefing. The NLN Student Satisfactory and self-confidence in Learning Questionnaire was used to measure students’ satisfaction (five items, with the total score of 25) and self-confidence in learning (eight items, with the total score of 40). Results: 144 out of 220 students agreed to participate in this study. The mean of satisfaction with current learning is 17.85 (SD 4.1) and the mean of students self-confidence in learning was 29.75 (SD 4.07). Results of the study showed that students overall satisfaction and selfconfidence in this study was about 70%. Majority of the students enjoyed this teaching method and some even requested more simulation scenarios teaching as this teaching strategy is interactive and students are not only the audiences. Some students expressed that they were less scared and knew what to do when they encounter patients with similar problems in clinical area. The students who graded low were mainly because of the technical problem, e.g. some students in particular area of the laboratory expressed that they could not hear the conversation between their fellow students and the simulated patient clearly. Summary: Engaging students in large class teaching and learning is challenges, but using simulation may enhance students’ participation and increase their self-confidence in clinical practice. Simulation teaching can offer a creative approach to learning for nursing students.