The Effects of Using Simulation Based Learning and Reflective Thinking SkillPromoting on Nursing Students’ Reflective Thinking Behaviorand Clinical Decision-MakingAbilities

Abstract

          Clinical decision-making is one of the crucial skills, especially in uncertain situation. The quasi-experimental research aimed to examine the effects of using simulation based learning and reflective thinking skill promoting on nursing students’ competency of reflective thinking behaviors and clinical decision-making abilities. The samples were 31 third year nursing students enrolled in the subject nursing practice for persons with health problems III. The control group was 15 students, and the experimental group was16 students. The experimental groups learned by the simulation-based learning method two times and the control group learned by lecture method. The research tools consisted of the reflective behavior assessment form and the clinical decision-making test. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and t-test.The results of the study showed that after studying, the experimental group had significantly higher scores of reflection behaviors (M = 44.69, SD = 1.15) than those before studying (M = 39.13, SD = 1.63, t (15) = 7.86, p < .01, 95% CI [-7.06, -4.05]). The experimental group had significantly higher scores of reflection behaviors (M = 44.68, SD = 4.60) than the control group (M = 38.20, SD = 3.16, t (29) = -4.54, p < .01, 95% CI [ -9.38, -3.59]). After studying, the experimental group had significantly higher scores of clinical decision-making (M = 26.75, SD = 4.34) than those before studying (M = 16.46, SD = 1.95, t (15) = -9.10, p <.01, 95% CI[-12.68,-7.87]). The experimental group had significantly higher scores of clinical decision-making (M = 26.75, SD = 4.34) than the control group (M = 21.83, SD = 3.55, t (29) = -3.43, p < .01, 95% CI[-7.84, -1.98]) The results of this study confirm the using simulation based learning and reflective thinking skill promoting on nursing students.