The Effect of Simulation Teaching on Baccalaureate Nursing Student's Self-confidence Related to Peripheral Venous Catheterization in Children: A Randomized Trial

In recent decades, nursing instructors have tended to use simulation rather than traditional methods due to benefits such as increased self-confidence. However, little academic literature is available to verify this claim. The procedure of establishing peripheral venous catheterization in pediatric patients is of great importance. Therefore, the researchers attempted to review the effect of the simulation teaching method on nursing students'' self-confidence related to peripheral venous catheterization in pediatric patients. In this trial, 45 students in the 5th and 6th semester of nursing school in the first half of school year 2012 from the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were randomly assigned to three groups (a control group, and two intervention groups). They were trained in establishing peripheral venous catheterization in pediatric patients through simulation teaching method and practical training. The students'' self-confidence was assessed by C-Scale before and after the intervention. The students’ self-confidence score showed a significant increase in the simulation group after the intervention in comparison to other groups (p = 0.03). Results revealed a significant increase in self-confidence of nursing students related to peripheral venous catheterization in pediatric patients by simulation. This substantiates the assertion that simulation can improve self-confidence. Due to the low sample size, further studies with larger population are suggested.