The effectiveness of teaching strategies for the development of critical thinking in nursing undergraduate students: a systematic review protocol.

Abstract

Review question/objective The review objective is to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of teaching strategies for the development of critical thinking among nursing undergraduate students. The review question is: What is the effectiveness of teaching strategies in promoting the development of critical thinking in undergraduate nursing students? Inclusion criteria Types of participants This review will consider studies on undergraduate students at any year level of a nursing program. Undergraduate nursing students from any country, and any undergraduate baccalaureate or baccalaureate equivalent course will also be considered. Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest The interventions which this review will examine include, but are not limited to, problem-based learning, case study, simulation, conceptual maps, and other teaching methods that specifically address the teaching and development of critical thinking. The review will consider teaching strategies (individuals and/or groups) which were used with undergraduate students in nursing to promote the development of critical thinking. Only studies that implemented and evaluated the effectiveness of such strategies will be included. Comparator/control intervention(s) This systematic review will compare studies using in the intervention group any teaching strategies and using in the control group any teaching strategies OR traditional teaching OR no specific intervention. Types of outcomes This review will consider studies that include critical thinking as an outcome measure. It will include but not be limited to studies that assess skills in inference, recognition of assumptions, deduction, interpretation and evaluation, analysis skills, induction, deduction and, critical response development. The specific instruments will include the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal instrument, the California Critical Thinking Skills Test, The Cornell Critical Thinking Test, The Ennis Weir Critical Thinking Essay, and the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory.