Efficacy of Simulation Using NLN/Jeffries Nursing Education Simulation Framework on Satisfaction and Self-Confidence of Undergraduate Nursing Students in a Middle-Eastern Country.

INTRODUCTION: Utilizing simulation in nursing education is increasingly becoming a popular teaching pedagogy. Simulation provides opportunity to the nursing students to practice the clinical skills through various real life like situational experiences. Simulation improves the clinical decision making skills of the nursing students. OBJECTIVE: A descriptive, cross sectional, correlational study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of simulation using NLN/Jeffries Nursing Education Simulation Framework on satisfaction and self-confidence of Undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: 370 undergraduate nursing students participated in the study. Educational practices, Simulation design, Student satisfaction and Self-confidence questionnaires were used. RESULTS: Majority of the nursing students perceived agreement on various domains of student satisfaction, self-confidence, educational practices and simulation design used in the curriculum. The students were self-confident to care for similar patients in the clinical area and satisfied with this instructional method. Satisfaction and self-confidence were correlated with educational practices and simulation design. CONCLUSION: Developing simulations using NLN/Jeffries Nursing Education Simulation framework will provide meaningful, engaging, and pedagogically sound experiences for the students. Pre-briefing and de-briefing are meaningful strategies to enhance the learning of students.

Predictors of routine episiotomy in primigravida women in Oman.

PURPOSE: Episiotomy is still the most common surgical procedure performed on women, despite the evidence against its routine use. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the practice and predictors of routine episiotomy on primigravidae in Oman. METHODS: Demographic data, reasons for and rate of performing routine episiotomies, and perceptions of 269 obstetricians, midwives and nurses from 11 hospitals in Oman regarding the procedure were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of episiotomies was 66%. In terms of performing routine episiotomies (p<0.05): non-Omanis were 4.49 times more likely than Omanis; bachelor's degree-holders were 2.26 more likely than diploma-holders; and regional hospitals were 2.36 times more likely than tertiary hospitals. The majority perceived episiotomies "reduce spontaneous perineal tearing risk", "reduce shoulder dystocia complications", and allow for "easier suturing". CONCLUSION: The rate of episiotomies was higher than other similar contexts. An urgent intervention is necessary to curb this excessive practice, and create a culture of evidence-based practice to deal with misleading perceptions.

WITHDRAWN: Students' perceived benefits of pre-clinical simulation based training (PSBT) on enhancing patient safety and clinical learning outcomes.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.03.009. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.

Perceived Benefits of Pre-Clinical Simulation-based Training on Clinical Learning Outcomes among Omani Undergraduate Nursing Students.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the benefits perceived by Omani undergraduate maternity nursing students regarding the effect of pre-clinical simulation-based training (PSBT) on clinical learning outcomes. METHODS: This non-experimental quantitative survey was conducted between August and December 2012 among third-year baccalaureate nursing students at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman. Voluntary participants were exposed to faculty-guided PSBT sessions using low- and medium-fidelity manikins, standardised scenarios and skill checklists on antenatal, intranatal, postnatal and newborn care and assessment. Participants answered a purposely designed self-administered questionnaire on the benefits of PSBT in enhancing learning outcomes. Items were categorised into six subscales: knowledge, skills, patient safety, academic safety, confidence and satisfaction. Scores were rated on a four-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Of the 57 participants, the majority (95.2%) agreed that PSBT enhanced their knowledge. Most students (94.3%) felt that their patient safety practices improved and 86.5% rated PSBT as beneficial for enhancing skill competencies. All male students and 97% of the female students agreed that PSBT enhanced their confidence in the safe holding of newborns. Moreover, 93% of participants were satisfied with PSBT. CONCLUSION: Omani undergraduate nursing students perceived that PSBT enhanced their knowledge, skills, patient safety practices and confidence levels in providing maternity care. These findings support the use of simulation training as a strategy to facilitate clinical learning outcomes in future nursing courses in Oman, although further research is needed to explore the objective impact of PSBT on learning outcomes.

Predictors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Knowledge among Jordanian Youths.

OBJECTIVES: Understanding factors associated with the level of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) knowledge acquisition is crucial to inform preventative programmes for young people. This study examines predictors of HIV knowledge among Jordanian youths. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 8,129 youths aged between 14 and 25 years randomly selected from schools representing each of the 12 governorates of Jordan. A total of 50% of respondents were female and, on average, 17 years old. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, HIV knowledge, gender awareness, exposure to and favourable attitudes toward risky behaviours. RESULTS: On a 13-item HIV knowledge test, participants answered an average of 7 questions correctly (mean = 7.21; standard deviation = 2.63). Female respondents from rural areas demonstrated significantly lower levels of HIV knowledge, while college and university students demonstrated higher levels. HIV knowledge differed significantly by sources of information, with peer-acquired information associated with more accuracy, while HIV information from parents or health centres was associated with a lower score. Youths with more egalitarian gender views also demonstrated higher knowledge levels, whereas youths approving of drug use showed lower levels of HIV knowledge. CONCLUSION: HIV education programmes in Jordan should focus on females and youths living in rural areas. Educational institutions have been shown to be effective in providing accurate information to students, while parents and health professionals should also be included in HIV prevention programmes in order to reduce misconceptions and raise the level of HIV knowledge among Jordanian youths.