The effect of nursing education models on the critical thinking dispositions of the students: A multicenter study

Nurses need to develop their ability of critical thinking in accordance with the education they receive to cope with the nursing care problems, to determine the necessity of the complex patient care and to give systematical care. The most important role on the acquisition of critical thinking skills to individuals is educational institution?s. In recent years, different education models such as problem based learning (PBL) and integrated education have been effectuated as an alternative to classical education on nursing.Of the total 390 students were included who accept to join the study among the 513 students whose in 1st and 4th grade of nursing care in spring term 2008-2009 academic year. The schools in this research are; the Dokuz Eylül University Nursing Academy (n=131) which the PBL model is applied in, the Cumhuriyet University Health Sciences Faculty (n=144) which the integrated education model is applied in and the Çukurova University Adana Health Academy (n=115) which the classical education model is applied. 229 students (%58,7) among the students were in 1st grade, 161 students (%41,3) were in 4th grade. California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI) and a questionnaire included the students' social demographic features, knowledge of social and education activities were applied.The mean score of CCTDI were found to be 267,31,±31,8 in the integrated education model, 262,6±29,1 in PBL and 256,4±23,8 in the classical model (p=0,008). Of the total mean score of the students in 4th grade was 266,3±32,2 and 260,4±25,8 in the 1st grade students (p=0,020). While significant difference has been found between the mean scores of the 1st and 4th grade in PBL, it hasn't been found to be significantly different in the other models. Receiving PBL training (OR:3,21, %95 GA:1,21-8,54, p=0,020), to be in 4 th grade (OR:3,55, %95 GA:1,62-7,79, p=0,002), to have democratic family type (OR:3,94, %95 GA:1,55-10,01, p=0,004) and to have a low class of socio?economic level (OR:3,61, %95 GA:1,02-12,76, p=0,046) have been found as independent factors increasing the critical thinking dispositions in high level.The results of the research show that the education models affect the critical thinking dispositions.