Comparison of concept mapping and conventional teaching methods on creativity of nursing students

Creativity is an essential part of nursing care. Thus developing creativity skills in nursing education is a priority. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of instruction by concept-mapping and update the fundamental of nursing by teaching creativity skills to nursing students. This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 70 nursing students, who were divided randomly into two equal experimental and control groups, in the Clinical Skills Lab of Tehran Nursing and Midwifery School. Educational content was presented in the form of concept-mapping in the experimental group and common method in the control group. Data collection included a demographic information and Abedi Creativity questionnaire; that filled at the beginning and at the end of four weeks course period. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (V. 21), using descriptive and analytical statistics at the significant level P<0.05. Before the intervention, mean total creativity’s score was 126.1±7.4 in the concept mapping group and 128.2±5.2 in the common group and the difference was not significant (P=0.07). However, after the intervention, a significant difference was found between the intervention and control group (157.8±7.3 vs. 138.1±5.1, P=0.01). After the intervention, the creativity skills in nursing students was improved in both group, but the Influence of education in concept-mapping group was greater than the common method. Further research with more time and for other lessons can be useful for evidence-based decision-making.