Effectiveness of Simulation Based Learning Module on Infection Control Practices upon Competency among Nursing Students

Background of the Study: Through simulation, students can enhance their critical thinking and analytical abilities to the best possible extent. To reduce hospital-acquired infections, it is critical to evaluate their current level of knowledge and develop future plans to increase it. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate student nurses' knowledge and skills on infection control practices among student nurses. Objectives: 1. To assess the competency of nursing students on infection control practices. 2. To determine the effectiveness of Simulation Based Learning Module on Infection control practices by comparing the competency on infection control practices among nursing students. 3. To find out the correlation between knowledge and skill on infection control practices among nursing students. Methodology: The present study was conducted using evaluative approach with one group pretest posttest research design at selected nursing college in Chennai. The samples were 30 B.Sc (Nursing) III yr students who met the inclusion criteria and selected using simple random sampling technique. After obtaining setting permission and informed consent the data was collected by self-administration method using the predetermined and validated tools such as background variables proforma Structured Knowledge Questionnaire (MCQ) on Infection control practices using Google forms and 5 OSCE stations with Observation checklist to assess the skills on Infection control. Collected data was analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study results revealed that there was a significant difference in mean knowledge scores on infection control practices between pre-test (M = 9.54/25 and SD = 4.14) and post-test (M = 18.77/25 and SD=2.55) with ‘t’ value of 11.44 at p<0.001 and also there was higher significant difference in mean practice scores on infection control practices between pretest (M = 34.86/50 and SD = 1.38) and post-test (M = 41.26/50 and SD = 0.63) with ‘t’ value of 14.82 at p< 0.0001. There was a significant correlation between pretest scores of knowledge and skill (r=0.7579, p value 0.0001) on infection control practices among nursing students. Whereas there was no correlation between post-test scores of knowledge and skill (r = 0.3998, p value 0.8345) on infection control practices among nursing students. Conclusion: clinical simulation is a cutting-edge teaching method that improves nursing students' learning outcomes. Nursing students' empowerment in infection control techniques is greatly influenced by simulation.