The Effect of Training According to Students' Learning Styles on Their Ability to Make Nursing Diagnoses: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of training according to students’ learning styles on their ability to make nursing diagnoses. Methods: The study was conducted as a one-group quasi-experimental study with pre and post-test design between April and September 2022. The research was carried out with 63 second-year students studying in the nursing department of a public university. The participants’ learning styles were identified using the VARK Learning Styles Inventory. The Case Diagnosis Form (pre-test) was applied to the participants and they were asked to determine the nursing diagnoses related to the case example. They were divided into groups according to their learning styles. They were trained on the nursing diagnoses and diagnosing process according to their learning styles. Three weeks after the training, the Case Diagnosis Form was applied to them again (post-test). Results: It was found that 71.4% of students had multiple learning styles, 74.6% had problems applying the nursing process, and 73% had problems determining nursing diagnoses. It was determined that the post-test mean scores of the participants increased significantly after the trainings compared to the pre-test mean scores (P<.001). There was no difference between pre and post-test mean scores according to the descriptive characteristics of the participants (P>.05). Conclusion: The training students according to their learning styles improved their ability to make nursing diagnoses. Taking into account the learning styles of students and using different teaching strategies in their education in line with this can help improve students' ability to make nursing diagnoses.