Effects of Simulation on Nursing Students' Dementia Knowledge and Empathy: A Mixed Method Study.

The experience of living with dementia is multifaceted while unique to the individual. Dementia education must empower nursing students to recognize the complexity of the experience while also emphasizing the need for person centered care. Participation in Dementia Live® provides nursing students a glimpse into the life of a person living with dementia incorporating common symptoms associated with dementia and time for reflection regarding the experience. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of dementia simulation on nursing students' dementia knowledge and empathy for people living with dementia. This convergent mixed methods study involved a convenience sample of 65 undergraduate nursing students. A pretest/posttest design was used to collect quantitative data while thematic analysis of focus group discussions was used for qualitative data collection. Quantitative results reported a significant increase in empathy. Qualitative findings supported the quantitative findings with themes identifying four of the six components of empathy. This study adds to the understanding of teaching and learning about dementia care and highlights the contributions a seven-minute simulation made to improve empathy.

Simulation to Enhance Empathy of Nursing Students Toward Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Empathy can be challenging when caring for individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). PURPOSE: This study examined the effectiveness of simulation for enhancing the empathy of nursing students toward patients with AUD. METHODS: A mixed-methods study used a pretest-posttest intervention measurement of empathy with the Comprehensive State Empathy Scale (CSES) and focus groups. Quantitative data were analyzed with t tests, whereas thematic analysis evaluated the qualitative data. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between pre- and post-CSES scores. The subscales of empathic concern and shared affect were significant: empathic concern, t55 = - 2.16, P = .04, and shared affect, t55 = -2.16, P = .02. Empathic imagination reached significance for students with personal experience with someone with an AUD, t54 = -2.39, P = .02. CONCLUSIONS: Additional research is warranted regarding the effect of simulation on empathic concern, shared affect, and empathic imagination toward individuals with AUD.