Use of standardized patients in patient education practices of senior nursing students: A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for innovative teaching practices in nursing education due to many factors, such as global changes, the rapid development of technology, the increasing number of students, and the recent pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: This research was conducted using standardized patients to evaluate the attitudes and skills of senior nursing students toward patient education practices following the implementation of a patient education training program.

DESIGN: Mixed-methods design.

SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a nursing faculty.

PARTICIPANTS: The sample of the study consisted of 47 senior nursing students.

INTERVENTION: The students participating in the study were given a four-hour patient education training that included the preparation of patient education, preparation of materials, and effective presentation.

METHODS: A descriptive information form prepared by the researchers, the Patient Education Implementation Scale (PEIS), the Turkish version of the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials (PEMATTR -P), and the presentation skill evaluation form (PSEF) were used to collect quantitative data. Semi-structured interview forms were utilized to collect qualitative data. SPSS for Windows v. 25.0 and MAXQDA20 were used for the data analyses. Results with a p value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: The post-test mean PEIS scores of the students increased in the total scale and in all subdimensions. A significant difference was found in the understandability and actionability of patient education materials evaluated with PEMATTR -P (p < 0.05). The mean PSEF score of the students was 85.14 ± 9.25 points. Within the scope of the research, two main themes, namely emotions and efficacy, were determined.

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that structured patient education training, including the use of standardized patients, is important for supporting and developing nursing senior students' attitudes and skills toward patient education.