Effectiveness of a simulation programme with lectures about end-of-life care using a standardised patient: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract

BackgroundEnd-of-life and hospice care simulation training is an effective training method for nursing students who rarely have first-hand experience in the clinical placement environment. A systematic debriefing is crucial to maximise the effect of simulation training. This study compared the hospice-related knowledge, attitudes, and confidence of nursing students with exposure to a simulation programme with lectures on end-of-life care using a standardised patient (SIwithLE) to those with exposure to a simulation-only programme on end-of-life care using a standardised patient (SIMUL).MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted at a nursing school in South Korea. Forty-nine senior nursing students participated in pre- and post-tests to measure their knowledge of hospice and palliative care, attitudes towards caring for terminally ill patients, and confidence in end-of-life care.ResultsKnowledge increase was observed not only within the group (experimental group) but also between groups and for interaction between group and time. Attitude significantly improved at post-test in both groups. Significant differences regarding confidence were observed neither within/between groups nor for interaction between group and time.ConclusionsSIwithLE was verified to be an efficient programme for enhancing students' knowledge of hospice and palliative care and positively changing their attitudes towards caring for terminally ill patients.