Senior nursing student's perceptions of an interprofessional simulation-based education (IPSE): A qualitative study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and attitudes toward interprofessional simulation-based education among Lebanese senior nursing students. METHODS: The study used an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach and collected data through focus groups. All focus group discussions were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and narratives were compared with the recordings to establish accuracy, credibility and reliability of data. Qualitative narratives were translated to English and analyzed through an inductive thematic content analysis. This study was reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). RESULTS: Four major themes were identified: understanding roles and responsibilities, enhancing collaboration, improve personal and interpersonal skills, and patient outcomes. CONCLUSION: The senior nursing students showed a positive perception and attitude toward interprofessional simulation-based education. They found that interprofessional simulation-based education increased their knowledge and understanding of the importance of the roles of other professions, as well as their own role in providing patient care. Furthermore, they perceived that interprofessional simulation-based education improved their personal and interpersonal skills. These positive findings may contribute to their future success in an interprofessional team, which could lead to improved patient outcomes. Therefore, future research is needed to see how the reported benefits of interprofessional simulation-based education training are reflected in clinical practice and related to patient outcomes.