Use of active learning classrooms in health professional education: A scoping review.

Background: Active learning approaches, such as the use of active learning classrooms, can be an important measure to prepare health professional students for work-life. In addition to teaching approaches, the design of the classroom or learning spaces could facilitate learning. Although active learning classrooms are used in health professional education, no previous scoping review has investigated their use and associated outcomes. Objective: A scoping review was conducted to provide an overview of existing studies on the use of active learning classrooms in health professionals' education. Design: Scoping review using the framework of Arksey and O'Malley. Methods: A systematic search was performed in ERIC, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid EMBASE for papers published between January 2012 and January 2023. Hand searches of the reference lists of the included studies were also conducted. Inclusion criteria were as follows: studies using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods; studies including undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate health professional students or teachers; studies that investigated students' and teachers' use of active learning classrooms or similar concepts in higher education; and studies published in English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Spanish, or Portuguese in peer-reviewed journals. Pairs of authors independently assessed the eligibility of the studies and extracted the data, which were thematically grouped. The scoping review protocol was published with the Open Science Framework prior to the study selection process. Results: The review included 11 papers from 10 studies. Most studies were published between 2018 and 2022, exploring students' perspectives. Three thematic groups were identified, suggesting that active learning classrooms (1) enhance a positive atmosphere and engagement but can be challenging; (2) facilitate students' interactions; and (3) have the potential to stimulate active learning and co-construction. Conclusions: The use of active learning classrooms in health professional education can facilitate interactions among students, between students and teachers, and between students and class content. However, the design of active learning classrooms can both enhance and challenge students' engagement and active participation. Teachers do not necessarily change their teaching approaches when compared to teaching in a traditional classroom. Future research should explore how to facilitate teachers' use of the opportunities in active learning classrooms in health professional education and students' learning outcomes, as well as the effect of high-technology active learning classrooms versus low-technology active learning classrooms on the intended learning outcome. Tweetable abstract: The use of active learning classrooms can facilitate active learning, but teachers do not necessarily change their teaching methods.

Postgraduate nursing students' experiences with simulation-based learning in palliative care education: A qualitative study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore postgraduate palliative care nursing students' experiences with simulation-based learning focusing on communication skills, as a learning method in palliative care education. BACKGROUND: Communication is one of several important competencies in palliative care and found to be challenging. Developing appropriate communication skills in palliative care requires education and practice. To provide postgraduate palliative care nursing students with the required knowledge and experience, practical and active learning approaches, such as simulation-based learning, can be applied. Several studies have explored undergraduate nursing students' experiences with simulation-based learning in palliative care. However, to our knowledge no studies have explored postgraduate palliative care nursing students` experiences with simulation-based learning focusing on communication skills in palliative care education. DESIGN: An exploratory descriptive design. METHODS: A qualitative method was employed. Three focus group interviews were conducted in May 2022 using videoconferencing (Zoom) with 11 postgraduate palliative care nursing students, eight of whom wrote reflective notes. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS: Three categories were identified in the data analysis: 1) from uncertain expectations to the real experience of simulation-based learning; 2) being a skilled professional in everyday life versus being observed in the scenarios; and 3) the balance between self-confidence and challenges in experiencing professional development and mastery. CONCLUSIONS: Postgraduate palliative care nursing students seemed to experience anxiety towards simulation-based learning in palliative care education, as well as variable expectations for the approach. This could be due to their unfamiliarity with the learning method. The need for repetition was underlined and the students indicated that they would like to be able to participate in several simulation sessions to familiarise themselves with the approach. The contrast between being a skilled professional in everyday life and the pressure of being observed and judged in the scenarios was an important finding. Students outlined the desire to feel safe, but also highlighted the importance of being challenged to experience professional development and enhanced mastery. Generally, the findings indicate that academic and psychological safety should be a focus during simulation-based learning and instructors should understand that students may have varied learning strategies, divergent learning experiences and shifting beliefs in their own competencies.

Simulation-based learning in palliative care in postgraduate nursing education: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Nurses require advanced competence in palliative care, but they face wide variations in education and a shortage in opportunities for clinical placement. Simulation-based learning (SBL) can enable students to develop clinical skills, critical thinking and confidence. No scoping reviews to date have mapped the use of SBL in palliative care within postgraduate nursing education. METHODS: The aim of this scoping review was to systematically map published studies on the use of SBL in palliative care in postgraduate nursing education. A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's (Int J Soc Res Meth 8(1):19-32, 2005) methodological framework. A systematic and comprehensive search of the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine and PsycINFO was performed for studies published between January 2000 and April 2022. Two authors independently assessed papers for inclusion and extracted data. Reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. The protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework. RESULTS: This review includes 10 studies. Three thematic groupings were identified: enhanced understanding of the importance of teamwork, interdisciplinarity and interpersonal skills; preparedness and confidence in one's ability to communicate during emotionally challenging situations; and impact and relevance to one's own clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: The use of SBL in palliative care in postgraduate nursing education seems to enhance students' understanding of the importance of teamwork and interdisciplinarity. The review shows contradictory results regarding whether SBL in palliative care increases students' confidence in their communication skills. Postgraduate nursing students experienced personal growth after participating in SBL. Because our findings indicate that limited research has been conducted within this field, future research should (1) explore postgraduate nursing students' experiences with SBL in palliative care with a focus on more practical content such as symptom management, (2) examine the relevance and application of SBL in clinical practice, and (3) be reported in line with recommendations on the reporting of simulation research.