Effects of a conflict resolution training program on nursing students: A quasi-experimental study based on the situated learning theory

Abstract

BackgroundConflict among nurses within the healthcare system negatively impacts them and patient outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to prepare nursing students for conflict resolution in clinical practice. ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop a conflict resolution training program based on the situated learning theory (SLT) for nursing students and to verify the impact of the program on abilities of communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. DesignThis quasi-experimental study was conducted using a non-randomized control group pretest and posttest design. SettingsA college of nursing with the main campus in South Korea. ParticipantsThe subjects were 48 senior nursing students in the last semester of their nursing program. MethodsThe program was developed based on the SLT. It was delivered to the experimental group (90 min per session, a total of eight sessions) while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed with χ2-test, Fisher's exact test, unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated-measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni correction using SPSS/WIN 25.0 program. ResultsThere were significant interactions between group and time in problem-solving ability (p = 0.048) and subjective conflict resolution ability (p = 0.005). Problem-solving ability and subjective conflict resolution ability in the experimental group significantly improved compared to the control group based on post-hoc test. After the program, objective conflict resolution ability was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (p < 0.001). For communication ability, there was a significant interaction between group and time (p = 0.046). However, it showed no significant difference between the two groups in a post-hoc test. ConclusionsThe conflict resolution training program based on the SLT was found to be effective in improving the abilities of problem-solving and conflict resolution of nursing students.