670-P: Effectiveness of Using Simulation to Train Nursing Students in Providing Preconception Counseling to Women with Diabetes

Abstract

Nurses can be pivotal to providing diabetes education, including, preconception counseling (PC) to prevent pregnancy-related complications in women with diabetes. However, many health professionals, including nurses, have reported self-deficits in these areas due to a lack training or knowledge. Simulation is an effective educational strategy utilized in schools of nursing to enhance critical thinking, decision-making, skills building and increase knowledge. However, little is known about the effectiveness of using simulation to train nursing students in providing diabetes education and preconception counseling to patients. Therefore, this study examined the effectiveness of a newly developed diabetes education/PC simulation training program developed for nursing students. The sample was 30 junior level baccalaureate nursing students who completed pretest and posttest measures on their awareness and knowledge of diabetes, pregnancy and PC. We used the 45 min video of READY-Girls (Reproductive-health Education and Awareness of Diabetes in Youth for Girls) PC program during the simulation training session because it is a validated evidenced-based, theory-driven program that targets female adolescents, and is endorsed by the American Diabetes Association. They also observed a live 10 minute simulation of actors portraying a diabetic educator and a diabetic female adolescent and their clinical interaction. Data were analyzed using a paired t-test. The mean pretest score was 9.33, while the mean posttest score was 15.00 with a statistically significant gain (t = 15.89; p = .000). Therefore, it appears that PC simulation may be an effective educational strategy to train nursing students on caring for women with diabetes. Disclosure J.L. Thurheimer-Cacciotti: None. D. Charron-Prochownik: None.