Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills training.

BACKGROUND: Literature shows that Virtual Patients (VPs) find extensive usage in the field of health sciences, especially in the post-pandemic period. VPs are successfully utilized in developing various effective skills like medical interview. However, this technology is quite new in Turkey and has not yet been used in communication skills training in a structured form. This research aimed to develop a virtual patient to improve the communication skills of medical students. METHODS: Developmental research method was used in the study. The implementation phase involved the one group posttest quasi-experimental design. The study group comprised of experts in various fields and 213 medical students. Needs Analysis Form, Scenario Building Form, System Validation Form, Communication Skills Assessment Form, and Interview Form were used as data collection tools. The research primarily concentrated on ensuring minimal errors within the system and enhancing students' communication skill scores. RESULTS: The study found that VP was effective in teaching communication skills. Communication skills improved from a mean score of 36.74 in the first interview with 15 students to 74.2 in the final application with 198 students. It was determined that the students who practiced repeatedly (n = 26) made 17% more effective interviews than their first practices (score: 89.2). The script matching of the VP was 83%. Other data obtained from the students generally showed that the VP application was developed in accordance with the purpose, that it was user-friendly, and that the scenarios were adequate. CONCLUSION: VPs like this have the potential to develop skills such as history taking, clinical reasoning, etc., which are very important in the field of health sciences.

Exploring spatial ability in healthcare students and the relationship to training with virtual and actual objects.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between the spatial ability levels of students and anatomy education is not well established in the literature, but it was stated that students should take short-term training during the first years of their education. There is limited number of studies on this topic. In that respect, the aim of this study was to determine the spatial ability levels of medical, dental and nursing students and to evaluate whether this ability level showed difference with respect to faculty, anatomy courses attended or short-term training, or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study sample was composed of 1071 students. Data were collected by Personal Information Form, Visualization of Views Test (VoVT) and Cross Section Test (CST). Data analyses were done by SPSS 21 package software. RESULTS: Students were determined to have medium level spatial ability. Medical and dental students were found to have higher spatial ability levels than nursing students. Medical and nursing students' CST scores showed significant difference after taking anatomy course. After short-term training, both CST and VoVT scores of students differed significantly. CONCLUSION: Supporting anatomy courses with education materials appropriate for the spatial ability level of students and introducing spatial ability development trainings in small groups would aid in increasing spatial ability levels of students.

The Effect of Concealing the Hydration Fluid on Anticipatory Nausea-Vomiting in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of concealing the hydration fluid bottle in order to reduce the experience of anticipatory nausea and vomiting before chemotherapy treatment in pediatric hematology oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was carried out as a randomized controlled clinical trial. The study was conducted sixty-two pediatric oncology patients who underwent chemotherapy in a hospital in Ankara, Turkey. The patients were randomly alloceted to an intervention group (n = 32) or a control group (n = 30). Patients in the intervention group concealing the hydration fluid bottle throughout the duration of hydration; patients in the control group received routine procedure (No concealment intervention) during hydration degree of nausea and vomiting were measured by the Baxter Retching Faces (BARF) scale. RESULTS: This study found no differences in the characteristics of the patients or in degree of nausea and vomiting between groups at enrollment. After concealing the hydration fluid bottle during the hydration, BARF scores were lower in the intervention group (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Concealing the hydration fluid had significant effects on degree of nausea and vomiting in pediatric oncology patient who received hydration before chemotherapy. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: This approach can be added as routine care as an effective non pharmacological intervention for pediatric oncology patient with receiving chemotherapy.

The efficacy of interventions provided by nurses to improve glycemic control of children with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Nurses have a very important role in diabetes education of children and adolescents, however, no systematic review has been performed that evaluates the effectiveness of the independent interventions of the nurses. This systematic review aims to identify and assess randomized controlled trials (RCT) that included interventions implemented by nurses to improve glycemic control for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct databases were systematically searched up to 2022. Interventions provided by nurses for any child ≤18 years diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus were included. SAMPLE: Seven RCT articles met our review criteria. RESULTS: All included studies were published between 2005 and 2021. Studies varied in terms of intervention type; telephone case management, coping skills training, motivational interview as well as home visit education programs. Interventions were found to significantly decrease the HbA1c level in three of seven studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review suggests that nurses can improve the glycemic control of children with type 1 diabetes by conducting care interventions. According to current evidence, this study suggests that telephone contact by nurses and motivational interviewing can be beneficial in improving glycemic control in this population. IMPLICATIONS: Nurses may encourage children and adolescents with diabetes to engage in self-management of their glucose levels. There is a need for more randomized controlled studies assessing the efficacy of nursing interventions for children with type 1 diabetes.

Impact of flipped classroom approach on undergraduate nursing student's critical thinking skills.

BACKGROUND: Enriching the undergraduate nursing main courses innovative approaches such as flipped classroom method, which may aid improving students' metacognitive learning strategies, are regarded to be very important in terms of enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in nursing care. AIM: This study aimed to determine if there were significant differences in performance and critical thinking skills of nursing students who were taught using the flipped classroom method versus those who were taught using the online traditional learning approach. Another aim was for students to describe their opinions of using the flipped classroom method. METHODS: This study adopted a quasi-experimental study design. A total of 63 nursing students participated in the study. The experimental group followed the flipped classroom learning approach, while the control group followed the online traditional learning approach. The study involved a pre- and post-test assessment to examine the students' learning achievements and critical thinking skills. RESULTS: The results indicate that the flipped classroom approach has no significantly different effect on students' academic achievement and critical thinking, compared to online traditional lecturing. However, in contrast to the analysis of the results, students generally stated that learning with a flipped classroom approach was more helpful and efficient, and that the method provided a dynamic learning session during lectures. CONCLUSIONS: Flipped classroom approach planned for a part of the pediatric nursing education did not show significant difference compared to online traditional lecturing.

Competencies of nursing students in the provision of spiritual care and the factors affecting spiritual caregiving.

PURPOSE: Nursing care is a holistic practice that contains biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual elements. Spiritual care is also one of the core aspects of a holistic care approach, The provision of optimal spiritual care requires a good understanding of the issue by nurses. The present study determines the competencies of nursing students in spiritual care and the status of spiritual caregiving. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study has a descriptive, cross-sectional, and qualitative research method of answers to follow-up questions. The study was conducted with 468 nursing students who are 1-4 years in a BSN program in Turkey. Personal information form, semi-structured interview form, Spiritual Caregiving Scale, and Spiritual Care Competence Scale were used for the collection of data. FINDINGS: The average scores recorded by the participants in the Spiritual Caregiving and Spiritual Care Competence Scales were 145.60 ± 20.63 (the perception of spirituality and spiritual care is moderate-high) and 102.92 ± 15.67 (the competence of the nurse in spiritual care is moderate-high), respectively. It was found that nearly half of the respondent students had never heard of the concept of spiritual care, nor did they have any knowledge of such care, and almost none had undergone training in this subject. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Important to add spiritual care to the nursing curriculum as a separate course or subject, and to raise awareness of students through applied teaching methods.

Self-control and problem-solving skills of undergraduate nursing program students, and an analysis of influential factors.

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to evaluate the self-control and problem-solving skills of nursing students, and to identify any influential factors in this regard. DESIGN AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for the study, involving 473 undergraduate nursing students. The data collection instruments were the Personal Information Form, the Self-Control Scale (SCS), and the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI). FINDINGS: The mean SCS score of the student nurses was 22.54 ± 19.5, and the mean PSI score was 100.31 ± 17.3. The SCS and PSI scores were moderately negatively correlated. Gender was found to be a significant factor in self-control and problem-solving skills. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Determining deficiencies through the evaluation of the self-control and problem-solving skills of nursing students before graduation can support them in becoming healthier and more successful candidates.

Self-management program for adolescents with chronic kidney disease: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: It is important to develop self-management behaviours in adolescents to prevent chronic kidney disease progression. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the effect of a self-management program that was developed based on individual and family self-management theory to aid adolescents with chronic kidney disease in the acquisition of competencies in the management of their disease. DESIGN: This is a randomized controlled study. PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted with 20 intervention and 20 control patients, who were treated at two hospitals in Ankara between December 2018 and May 2019. MEASUREMENTS: Self-Management Assessment Form, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Adolescent Form and clinical parameters. A training program, specific to chronic kidney disease, was administered over three sessions in a group training setting when the patients came to the clinic for follow-up. After the training program was completed, the patients were monitored for three months through home visits once every two weeks, totalling six visits. RESULTS: Following the application of self-management training, a statistically significant difference was found self-management knowledge and behaviours, quality of life and anxiety mean scores of intervention and control group (p <.05), a significant decrease in only blood urea nitrogen among the clinical parameters when compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a self-management training program was developed based on Individual and Family Self-Management Theory, aiming to have a positive effect on the self-management behaviours of adolescents in the cognitive and psychosocial domains.

Comparison of 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate in 70% Alcohol and 10% Povidone-Iodine Used for Port Catheter Dressing Changes in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% alcohol with that of 10% povidone-iodine, for dressing changes in pediatric hematology-oncology patients with port catheters, in preventing catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, observational, and cross-sectional study, 45 patients (25 patients for chlorhexidine, 20 patients for povidone-iodine) with port catheters were evaluated from January 2018 to May 2019. The sociodemographic, clinical, and port catheter-related variables were evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 6.28 ± 4.58 years, and 60% of patients were female. RESULTS: Among the patients whose dressings were changed using 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% alcohol, the mean number of dressing changes was 39.52 ± 29.7 and the rates of exit-site infection and CRBSI were 20% (2.37/1000 catheter-days) and 16% (1.90/1000 catheter-days), respectively. Among the patients whose dressings were changed using 10% povidone-iodine, the mean number of dressing changes was 48.0 ± 31.48 and the rates of exit-site infection and CRBSI were 15% (1.59/1000 catheter-days) and 10% (1.06/1000 catheter-days), respectively. None of the patients developed pocket infections. The rates of CRBSI and exit-site infections were not different between the 2 antiseptic solutions. CONCLUSION: This study found no differences between the effectiveness of 2% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol and that of 10% povidone-iodine solution in preventing CRBSI. Therefore, both solutions can be used in dressing changes.