Effects of the small private online course combined with simulation-based training in a patient safety education program among nursing students: A quasi-experimental study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the effects of the small private online course (SPOC) combined with simulation-based training in a patient safety education program among nursing students in China. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was conducted. A total of 219 nursing students from four parallel classes were selected from the nursing department of a health vocational college in Zhengzhou, China, from November 2020 to June 2021 and allocated to the intervention group (n = 113) and control group (n = 106). Based on SPOC, nursing students in the intervention group implemented simulation teaching in small groups, with three class hours each time, a total of two times, divided into three stages: pre-class preparation, teaching implementation, and after-class reflection. The control group received theoretical patient safety education through SPOC, implemented on the DingDing platform for two class hours each time, four times. All participants were invited to complete a demographic questionnaire and the Chinese version of Patient Safety Competency Self-Evaluation (PSCSE) before and after the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 103 and 102 students from the intervention and control groups completed the study. The total scores of PSCSE in the post-test of the intervention group (176.24 ± 13.73 vs. 144.64 ± 13.75) and the control group (160.87 ± 14.88 vs. 142.57 ± 15.66) were higher than those in the pre-test (P < 0.01), and the total scores of PSCSE of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group (176.24 ± 13.73 vs. 160.87 ± 14.88, P < 0.01). After intervention, the scores of PSCSE in all dimensions were increased in the intervention group (P < 0.01); in the control group, the scores of patient safety competency in most dimensions were increased (P < 0.01), except for the dimensions of reporting and response to error and communication related to error (P＞ 0.05). Except for the dimensions of knowledge and attitude of error reporting and disclosing (P＞ 0.05), the scores of other dimensions in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The patient safety education program using the SPOC combined with simulation-based training can effectively improve the patient safety competency of nursing students in terms of attitude, skills, and knowledge.