Manuel dexterity of nursing students and the factors that effect it

This research has been designed as a descriptive and an analytical study to define manuel dexterity of nursing students and determine the factors that effect it. The data that was required for the research has been gathered with a survey and by performing Purdue Pegboard test to students to measure their manuel dexterity. The sample of the research was consisted of 196 students who are taking education at Nursing Department of Adnan Menderes University Aydın School of Health. Mean dominant hand dexterity scores of students has been determined to be 19.16±1.36. Their mean non-dominat hand dexterity scores has been determined as 17.04±1.43, mean both hand dexterity scores as 14.58±1.35, mean right hand, left hand and both hand scores as 50.70±4.20 and mean assembly skill scores as 38.55±6.02. When the relation between the educational year and dexterity of students had been examined it was seen that mean dominant dexterity scores of 4th year students were higher than 2nd and 1st year students', mean non dominant dexterity scores of 4th year students were higher than 3rd year students', mean both hand dexterity scores of 4th year students were higher than 2nd and 3rd year students', mean right hand, left hand, both hand dexterity scores of 4th year students were higher than 2nd and 3rd year students' and mean assembly skill scores of 4th year students were higher than 3rd year students' at a meaningful degree (p<0.05). It has been determined that mean dexterity scores of female students were higher than male students at a meaningful degree in all stages of the Purdue Pegboard test ( p<0.001). Mean assembly skill scores of the students who had a normal body type (18.50 - 24.99 kg/m2 ) has been determined to be higher than pre-obes' ( > 25.00 kg/m2 ) scores at a meaningful degree (p<0.05). The mean dominant dexterity scores (p=0.002) of the students who have voluntarily chosen the nursing job and mean assembly skill scores (p˂0.001) of the students who have a hobby has been determined to be higher than others' scores at a meaningful degree (p<0.05). As a result, it has been seen that manuel dexterity of nursing students were relatively high at 4th year and the students who had a normal body type, a hobby, or voluntariy chosen the job had better manuel dexterity. It has been thought that this research may serve as a normative data for future research and give a particular guidance on achieving the objectives of nursing education and giving an education of high quality Keywords: Manual Dexterity, Nursing Education, Nursing Students, Purdue Pegboard Test