The Effect of Using Human Patient Simulation on Undergraduate Nursing Student Skill Performance and Anxiety Level

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Background and Aim Human patient simulators provide a very realistic situation for nursing students, centers on the opportunity for the learner to practice and learn in an environment as close to reality as possible, allows students to construct knowledge, explore assumptions, and develop psychomotor skills in a safe environment. The study aims to assess the effect of using human patient simulation on undergraduate nursing students’ skill performance and anxiety levels at the college of Nursing in Mosul University. Method and Materials: A case control study design has been used for the 1st February 2014 till 30th of May 2014. A non-probability convenience sampling of (90) under graduate nursing students (60) females and (30) males were chosen, the study sample was divided into two groups, an experimental group of (45) nursing students with human patient simulation laboratory setting experience and control group of (45) nursing students with clinical practice setting experience. The validity of this study instruments was established through a panel of (12) experts of different specialties related to the field of the present research, Reliability of the study tools was determined through the use of split half -approach of the computation of Cronbach alpha correlation coefficients for the checklist and The Cronbach’s alpha for the questionnaire. Data collection tools include the checklist which is consisted of (25) question items that related to the physical examination for thorax and lungs and the questionnaire consisted of (15) question items respondents were asked to rate the individual items on a (5)-point scale according to their response to each item, Data were prepared and entered into a computer files; Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS, version 21) is used for data analysis. Conclusions: The study result show that there is a significant effect of simulation in Students’ skills performance level while there is no effect in control group, and there is a significant relationship between students' skill performance and gender for case group, while there were no significant relationship between students' skill performance and gender for control group. The male students is more improvement than female in their skill level after simulation course. Anxiety level were higher in student who apply physical examination on a patient comparing with those students who apply physical examination on a HPS. Recommendation: The study recommended to introduce the modern technology (HPS) in students' training process because it decrease students' anxiety level so the skill performance of students will be more confident and reduce errors when skilled nursing application and thus reflected repercussions on public health and a better way than the old classical training.