1. Background
Critical thinking and problem solving are basic skills for all nurses (1). In all workplace settings, nurses are expected to think critically, solve problems effectively, and make the right decisions. Nurses obtain data on patients and their families, analyze, define the problem, plan for the solution of the problem, apply the plan, and evaluate the results. All of these skills are related to problem solving and critical thinking (2, 3). Developing all those skills during undergraduate education is an important goal for tutors (4). Nursing education is an education system that encompasses cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning fields (5). The main goal in this system is to graduate nurses who can integrate theory and application, who think critically in the learning process, and who have gained effective problem solving skills. For this reason, it is important to use novel approaches that improve occupational skill in nursing education (6). One of the methods adopted so that students can improve their proficiency in patient care and gain skill is simulations (7).
A simulation is a technique or tool which tries to create the characteristics of the real world to prove sufficiency and proficiency in learning (8). Thus, simulation encourages learning through empirical techniques (9). Simulations, which act as intermediaries between clinical application and theoretical courses, are considered a method for presenting a clinical condition as similar to reality as possible, thus making it easier to understand and manage when truly encountered (7). Simulation is a safe teaching method, used in recent years for the provision of technical and non-technical skills in pre-and post-graduation nursing training (10-12) and is accepted for improving nursing trainers (13).
The high number of students and low number of tutors in schools providing nursing education in Turkey, crowdedness and inadequate clinical settings, the constantly improving technical equipment in today’s clinics where patient rights are given the utmost importance, all have negative effects on the student’s using opportunities to improve and apply their skills at a desired level as well as the students’ effective evaluation of patient care results. In order to remove this insufficiency, the use of scenario/computerized simulations to prepare nursing students for the clinical environment is a novel approach (7). Certain studies have stressed that the use of scenario/computerized simulation is an efficient learning strategy to gain occupational skills for nursing students (4, 8, 13, 14). Alongside this, training performed through the simulation has been reported to provide a rich environment for effective clinical decision making, to increase cooperative learning, technical skill, teamwork, and role development (15), to decrease the anxiety levels of students in the first clinical application and to increase self-confidence (16). Additionally, nursing students are able to evaluate their sufficiency and improve their problem determination and solving skills through the simulation technique (4). Simulations, which cost more than mannequins and require advanced knowledge in terms of educator, have to be used and evaluated as an alternative education method with traditional skill training (6). However, no studies were found in the literature that examined the effects of the simulation method on critical thinking and problem solving skills compared to the traditional teaching method. In this context, the use of research data in shaping training programs will be more evidence-based and safe.
2. Objectives
The present study was conducted to determine the effect of the high-fidelity simulation method on the critical thinking and problem solving skills of nursing students.
3. Methods
In the study, a randomized, controlled, pre-test post-test experimental research model was used.
The universe of the study consisted of 191 students studying at the freshmen year of the Nursing Department between February 22nd and April 15th 2016. Sample size was calculated according to alpha (α) = 0.05, beta (β) = 0.20, and 1-β = 0.8; it was calculated that 23 students should be assigned to each group. A computer-generated random number table was used to randomize pairs (containing “1 = study group” (n = 30) and “2 = control group” (n = 30)) according to student identification number, sex and the mean scores of the California critical thinking inclination scale and the Problem Solving Inventory.
3.1. Inclusion Criteria
- Not receiving any education on the course content of “Nursing Basics”, where occupational skills are heavily taught
- Continuing the professional skills training given by simulation method / traditional method at the time of research
- Accepting to participate in the study
3.2. Exclusion Criteria
- Having previously received professional skills training
- Filling California critical thinking inclination scale and Problem Solving Inventory incorrectly/incompletely
- Not wanting to participate in research
Data was collected using a student identification form, an occupational skill application checklist, the California critical thinking inclination scale and the Problem Solving Inventory.
3.2.1. Student Identification Form
The researcher-made form included 8 items concerning sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, family income, city of residence for the longest duration, rank of preference for the nursing department).
3.2.2. The California Critical Thinking Inclination Scale
The scale was developed in 1990 within the context of the Delphi project by the American Philosophical Association to evaluate critical thinking levels. The validity and reliability of the 51-item Turkish scale were assessed by Kökdemir (17). The scale is a six way Likert type scale with six subdimensions, namely searching the truth, open-mindedness, analyticalness, systematicalness, self-confidence, and curiosity. The minimum score for sub-dimensions is 10 while the maximum is 60, and the total gives the critical thinking score. In this context, 239 points and below from the scale is considered low, 240 - 299 is considered medium, and 300 and more is considered high with regard to critical thinking inclination. The reliability alpha coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.83 in the study.
3.2.3. The Problem Solving Inventory
The Turkish adaptation of the scale developed by Heppner and Petersen (1982) was performed by Sahin et al. (18). The inventory is a self-report scale that is applied to adolescents and adults to evaluate what the individuals think about problem solving behavior and approaches. The 35-item inventory is a six way Likert type scale. The scale has three subdimensions, namely problem solving confidence, approach-avoidance, and personal control. The lowest score that can be attained is 32 while the highest is 192. Higher total scores from the inventory show that the individual perceives himself/herself as insufficient in problem solving, while lower scores show that the individual perceives himself/herself as sufficient in the same area. The reliability alpha coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.84 in the study.
The scale and forms used in the study were applied on the first and last days of the education term. In three different sessions, the study group was given occupational skill training through the use of simulations while the control group was given occupational skill training through traditional education.
The occupational skill training through simulation was given in a simulation laboratory. The laboratory had three sections. The first section is the patient room where the patient and the clinical equipment were located. The second section is the command center where a tutor from the study team ensured that the event in the scenario occurred and recorded it. The third section is the debriefing room where the video of the applications performed in the patient room was played and applications were discussed with a tutor. The simman essential simulator was appropriate for applying all scenarios and skills regarding nursing, interactive with immediate reaction to the intervention, and appropriate for tutors designing their own patient files and recording them in addition to the preexisting scenarios.
The study team prepared 13 different scenarios for the students in the study group in three sessions on perineal care (five scenarios), oral drug administration (five scenarios), and respiratory applications (three scenarios). These scenarios were given to the tutor trained on simulation training, who was responsible for training the study group before the occupational training. Before the simulation training, the students were briefed about the simulation laboratory and the training manner. In the application phase, six groups of five were formed. Students in each group completed a scenario in 10 minutes with a group competing an application in 50 minutes. Later, each student analyzed their applications in the debriefing room with other group members for 75 minutes. The occupational skill training of the students in the study group took 40 hours.
In the occupational skill training given to the control group via the traditional education method, whole body, arm, and huckle models which had no technological characteristics were used. This training was given to the students by the research team, including the responsible lecturer of the course. Since the models had non-programmable characteristics, students developed their occupational skills only through demonstrations. In the traditional education method, the students were made to apply skills guided by checklists where perineal care, oral drug administration, and respiration applications without a scenario in three sessions. The occupational skill training of the students in the control group took 24 hours.
Data was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22. The appropriateness of the normal distribution of the quantitative data was examined with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Beside descriptive statistical methods (mean values, standard deviation), the Student t-test was used in quantitative data for the intergroup comparison and the paired sample t-test was used in comparisons within groups. The chi-squared test was used in the comparison of qualitative data. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated in the reliability analysis of the California critical thinking inclination scale. Statistical significance was accepted to be P < 0.05.
Before the study, written permission was taken from the Cumhuriyet University Non Invasive Clinical Research Board of Ethics (Decision no: 2014-03/27). Each student was told that participation in the study was on a voluntary basis, and was briefed that nobody but the researcher would access the information. In this context, the written permissions of the students in the study were taken.
4. Results
The mean age of the study group was 18.70 ± 1.17 years, whereas the mean age of the control group was 18.30 ± 0.74 years. In the study group, 63.3% of the patients were female, 50.0% preferred nursing department in the second place, and 40.0% preferred the nursing department for the job opportunities. In the control group, 66.7% were female, 43.3% preferred nursing department in the second place, and 33.3% preferred the nursing department for the job opportunities. Table 1 shows that the students constituting the study and control groups were statistically similar with regard to critical thinking and problem solving skill levels and sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, family income, city of residence for the longest duration, and preference order for the nursing department.
Table 1.The Comparison of the Descriptive Characteristics of the Studentsa
| Variables | Study Group | Control Group | Test Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (mean ± SD) | 18.70 ± 1.17 (min = 17, max = 23) | 18.30 ± 0.74 (min = 17, max = 20) | t = 1.568/NS |
| California critical thinking inclination scale (mean ± SD) | 247.48 ± 28.12 | 236.14 ± 28.20 | t = 1.560/NS |
| Problem solving inventory (mean ± SD) | 94.53 ± 17.81 | 95.90 ± 18.62 | t = - 0.290/NS |
| Sex | X2 = 0.073/NS | ||
| Female | 19 (63.3) | 20 (66.7) | |
| Male | 11 (36.7) | 10 (33.3) | |
| Family Income | X2 = 0.096/NS | ||
| Good | 8 (26.7) | 9 (30.0) | |
| Medium | 14 (46.6) | 13 (43.3) | |
| Bad | 8 (26.7) | 8 (26.7) | |
| Lived longest in | X2 = 0.894/NS | ||
| City | 17 (56.6) | 19 (63.3) | |
| District | 8 (26.7) | 5 (16.7) | |
| Town | 5 (16.7) | 6 (20.0) | |
| Preference order for nursing department | X2 = 0.543/NS | ||
| First | 4 (13.3) | 6 (20.0) | |
| Second | 15 (50.0) | 13 (43.3) | |
| Third and above | 11 (36.7) | 11 (36.7) | |
| Reason for preferring the nursing department | X2 = 5.852/NS | ||
| Love for the occupation | 11 (36.7) | 6 (20.1) | |
| Job possibilities | 12 (40.0) | 10 (33.3) | |
| Career | 3 (10.0) | 7 (23.3) | |
| To care for others | 3 (10.0) | 7 (23.3) | |
| Family wish | 1 (3.3) | - |
aValues are expressed as No. (%) unless otherwise indicated.
Table 2 shows the mean scores of the students’ problem solving and critical thinking skill levels in the study and control groups during the pre-test and post-test. Accordingly, in comparisons within groups between the pre-test and post-test applications no statistically significant difference between the California critical thinking inclination scale and sub dimension mean scores and the Problem Solving Inventory and sub dimension mean scores could be found. Similar findings were reached in comparisons between groups.
Table 2.The Comparison of the Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills of the Groups in the Pre-Test and Post-Test
| Scales | Study Group (Mean ± SD) | Control Group (Mean ± SD) | ta/P |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Critical Thinking Inclination Scale | |||
| Searching for truth | |||
| Pre-test | 37.38 ± 8.23 | 36.00 ± 5.86 | 0.748/NS |
| Post-test | 35.19 ± 7.41 | 35.52 ± 9.00 | - 0.156/NS |
| tb/P | 1.276/NS | 0.297/NS | |
| Open mindedness | |||
| Pre-test | 39.25 ± 5.15 | 36.30 ± 7.87 | 1.714/NS |
| Post-test | 37.69 ± 7.74 | 38.22 ± 6.81 | - 0.280/NS |
| tb/P | 1.004/ NS | - 1.200/ NS | |
| Analyticalness | |||
| Pre-test | 44.81 ± 5.56 | 41.93 ± 6.83 | 1.788/NS |
| Post-test | 43.39 ± 7.40 | 43.48 ± 8.76 | - 0.043/NS |
| tb/P | 0.967/NS | - 0.853/NS | |
| Systematicalness | |||
| Pre-test | 41.44 ± 6.17 | 38.55 ± 5.68 | 1.886/NS |
| Post-test | 39.00 ± 6.77 | 40.05 ± 7.29 | - 0.581/NS |
| tb/P | 1.506/NS | - 1.196/NS | |
| Self-confidence | |||
| Pre-test | 40.38 ± 8.68 | 40.04 ± 5.06 | 0.182/NS |
| Post-test | 41.76 ± 7.77 | 42.28 ± 9.83 | - 0.229/NS |
| tb/P | - 0.679/ NS | - 1.321/NS | |
| Curiosity | |||
| Pre-test | 44.20 ± 8.44 | 43.29 ± 7.81 | 0.436/NS |
| Post-test | 45.00 ± 8.96 | 43.50 ± 10.82 | 0.585/NS |
| tb/P | - 0.438/NS | - 0.107/NS | |
| General | |||
| Pre-test | 247.48 ± 28.12 | 236.14 ± 28.20 | 1.560/NS |
| Post-test | 242.04 ± 35.98 | 243.07 ± 39.34 | - 0.106/NS |
| tb/P | 0.723/NS | - 1.059/ NS | |
| Problem Solving Inventory | |||
| Problem solving confidence | |||
| Pre-test | 30.80 ± 9.43 | 31.60 ± 9.64 | - 0.325/NS |
| Post-test | 27.26 ± 8.20 | 28.50 ± 8.70 | - 0.565/NS |
| tb/P | 1.787/NS | 1.593/NS | |
| Approach-avoidance | |||
| Pre-test | 43.93±8.80 | 44.53 ± 8.76 | - 0.264/NS |
| Post-test | 42.96 ± 9.04 | 44.10 ± 10.43 | - 0.449/NS |
| tb/P | 0.445/ NS | 0.301/ NS | |
| Personal control | |||
| Pre-test | 19.80 ± 4.82 | 19.76 ± 4.00 | 0.029/NS |
| Post-test | 18.96 ± 2.45 | 19.66 ± 3.14 | - 0.961/NS |
| tb/P | 0.973/NS | 0.120/NS | |
| General | |||
| Pre-test | 94.53 ± 17.81 | 95.90 ± 18.62 | - 0.290/NS |
| Post-test | 89.20 ± 16.99 | 92.26 ± 19.51 | - 0.649/NS |
| tb/P | 1.374/NS | 1.058/NS | |
a Student t-test.
b Paired sample t-test.
5. Discussion
As a result of the measurements, no difference was observed between the traditional training method and the simulation method with regard to problem solving and critical thinking. In other terms, the effects of both methods were found to be similar. Thus, hypotheses 1 and 2 were rejected.
Nursing training aims to make it possible to integrate theoretical information in the books with real life and to improve certain skills of the students such as communication, critical thinking, and problem solving (19). Especially because of the rapid developments and changes in the clinical field, it is very important for students to use their critical thinking abilities for optimal patient care and clinical decision making, just as it is important for them to improve their problem solving skills to cope with problems in safe patient care (19, 20). In the present study, the students' critical thinking and problem solving skills were at a medium level before and after occupational skill training. Another study conducted in Turkey reported similar results in terms of critical thinking and problem solving skills of nursing students (21-24). This finding reveals the necessity to include more applications to support students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills in theoretical and applied courses.
Simulation, which is increasing in popularity in nursing education, provides an opportunity for logical thinking in clinical problems and decision making without the potential of actually harming a patient (13). Especially through debriefing, which is an important step of simulation applications, students can become aware of what they learn, how they solve critical applications during scenario applications, and what their emotions and behavior are regarding analyzing their own thoughts (12, 25). Thus, learning through simulation is very important in the utilization and improvement of critical thinking abilities (14). However, in our study, the simulation method was found to be ineffective in the development of the critical thinking and problem solving abilities of students. In contrast, a study on the effect of high fidelity simulation with the nursing process on learning problem solving in freshman nursing students reported significant increases in the information levels, communication, critical thinking, and problem solving abilities of students (1). In a study by Park et al. (20), after two weeks of skill improvement through simulation, improvements were observed in the problem solving and critical thinking of students compared to the start. In another study, after the training performed with high fidelity simulation, almost all the students stated that their critical thinking abilities improved (14). In a qualitative study by Hope et al. (9), students stated that their humanistic care provision and problem solving skills improved through learning with a simulation. In a randomized study, two hours of simulation training improved the critical thinking abilities of students compared to the control group, especially in the dimensions of analyticalness and searching for truth (26). In a study where the perceptions of students and tutors on the use of simulations in nursing education were examined, the simulation method improved critical thinking skills for safe patient care (11). Other studies have found that simulation training for nursing students improved critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well (4, 15, 27-30).
Despite the findings of these studies, which were obtained through only skill training with the simulation method in a mostly qualitative frame, some studies have found that the simulation method has no effects on improving critical thinking and problem solving abilities. In a study that examined the effect of the simulation method applied in treatment focused training for the emergency and intensive care nursing course on problem solving and critical thinking, the problem solving skills of students in the study group improved compared to the control group, with no changes in critical thinking skills (31). In a study by Kim et al. (32), the critical thinking ability of the study group improved compared to the control group after 10 weeks of simulation training, with problem solving skills being similar to the control group. In a study conducted by Kim and Choi (33) with 41 nursing students over 12 weeks, no differences were observed between the problem solving and critical thinking skills of the students before and after the training. In another study, the simulation method improved the skill and knowledge of nursing students with no changes in problem solving skills (34).
Another important finding obtained in the present study is that there was no difference between the simulation method and traditional education in developing the problem solving and critical thinking skills of the students. A study reported no difference between the simulation method and the traditional method in nursing knowledge and competence of the students, however, the simulation method was more effective in gaining professional skills (35). According to those findings, which are parallel to our findings, it is necessary to continue research on the subject. The main problem in nursing education is how to improve the problem solving and critical thinking skills of the students. In this context, it is important to develop efficient, cost- effective and safe education methods based on evidence-based data.
5.1. Limitations of the Study
The present study has a sampling limitation since it was conducted with students studying at a single nursing department. The self-reports of the students regarding their problem solving and critical thinking skills are limited to the data collection forms. The students learned a limited number of skills through simulation in the Nursing Basics course, and the traditional education method was used in the development of other skills. Additionally, the lack of data in the literature regarding the comparison of the traditional education and simulation methods in the development of the problem solving and critical thinking skills of students created a limitation in the discussion of findings.
5.2. Conclusions
In the present study, the simulation method was found not to be superior in improving the problem solving and critical thinking abilities of students to the traditional education method. The results of our study, as well as others, show that the improvement of the problem solving and critical thinking skills of nursing students continues to be a subject for improvement and consideration. In this context, it is recommended to prepare training programs for students to gain critical thinking and problem solving skills, the theoretical education given to the students not to be memorizing and questioning in the clinical field to gain the ability to decide. Also, performing such studies with larger sample groups comparing different education methods would contribute to determining the effective learning methods to improve the problem solving and critical thinking skills of students.
