The effect of the scenario-based simulation and hybrid simulation methods on the anxiety, knowledge and skills of nursing students about postoperative care of cervical spinal trauma patients

This semi-experimental study was conducted with a prospective control group to determine the effect of the scenario-based simulation and hybrid methods in the postoperative care of cervical spinal trauma patients on the anxiety, knowledge and skills of nursing students. The study population consisted of 140 fourth grade students of the Hacettepe University Faculty of Nursing while the sample contained a total of 48 volunteer students with control, simulation and hybrid groups of 16 subjects each. All students received training on the care of the spinal trauma patient in the first phase of the study and simulation training was then administered to the simulation and hybrid (simulation with standardized patient) group students in the next phase. The state trait anxiety scale and scenario-related information and application evaluation forms were used. Data were evaluated by number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, paired t test and one-way variance analysis. A statistically significant difference was found between the pre-training, post-training and post-simulation mean state trait anxiety scale total scores, trait anxiety scores and knowledge-implementation in spinal trauma scores (p <0.05) while there was no such difference between the mean state trait anxiety scores and knowledge-implementation in spinal trauma scores between the groups (p <0.05). The mean scores of the hybrid group related to simulation application were higher than those of the simulation-only group (p <0.05). The students also expressed that they had physically and emotionally most strongly experienced a feeling of stress and inadequacy/inexperience and that the manikin did not provide a sense of reality during the simulation but they found the use of both methods together in the hybrid method useful. Based on these results, the use of the hybrid method in various scenarios of surgical nursing and the more extensive use of simulation training with a standardized patient are recommended.