Problem-based learning; a new pathway towards improving patient safety-based communication skills in nursing students

Hossein Jamshidi,Masumeh Hemmati Maslakpak,Naser Parizad

doi:10.34172/jpe.2021.25

Abstract

Introduction: Nursing education plays a pivotal role in patient safety in complicated healthcare environments, and problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational method that has gained a remarkable reputation in higher education. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the effects of nursing education through the PBL method on patient safety-based communication skills in nursing students. Patients and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 78 fourth-year nursing students. The participants were divided into intervention (n=43) and control (n=35) groups. In the intervention groups, the educational content based on the PBL method was provided in eight sessions (45-60 minutes each). Data were collected using demographic and patient safety-based communication skills questionnaires. Results: No significant difference was observed in the mean score of patient safety-based communication skills in the control groups after the intervention (P=0.162). However, the intervention groups had significantly higher scores after the educational sessions (P=0.001). Conclusion: The implementation of the PBL method affected the patient safety-based communication skills of the nursing students. Thus, it is recommended that conventional teaching methods be replaced by PBL to improve the clinical and cognitive capabilities of nursing students.

Highlights

Nursing education plays a pivotal role in patient safety in complicated healthcare environments, and problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational method that has gained a remarkable reputation in higher education
The results demonstrated no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of the mean scores of the patient safety-based communication skills before the intervention (P = 0.123), while a significant difference was observed in this regard between the groups after the intervention (P = 0.001; Table 3)
No significant difference was observed in the mean score of patient safety-based communication skills before and after the intervention (P = 0.162)

Summary

Introduction

Nursing education plays a pivotal role in patient safety in complicated healthcare environments, and problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational method that has gained a remarkable reputation in higher education. Results: No significant difference was observed in the mean score of patient safety-based communication skills in the control groups after the intervention (P = 0.162). Conclusion: The implementation of the PBL method affected the patient safety-based communication skills of the nursing students. Patient safety is a challenging issue in health care systems and plays a key role in nursing education and clinical practice [1]. It is an inherent element in the quality of health care service, and an important topic in the medical community and the World Health Organization (WHO) in developed and developing countries [2].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion