The effect of teaching Orem self- care model on nursing students communication performance in clinical setting

Communication with patient is the initial stage and main core of nursing care. Patient centered communication skills require special attention. Not applying a non-pragmatic theoretical model is one of the hindering underlying factors for quality and quantity care development. This study aimed to determine the effect of Orem self- care model on nursing students’ communication performance in clinical setting. In this quasi-experimental study, 66 nursing students were selected by easy-access sampling. Intervention group were trained based on Orem Self Care Model and control group based on routine nursing process method. Then the two groups cared patients over a week. Data were collected by performance evaluation checklist and nursing process record evaluation form, then analyzed with chi-square, Mann-Whitney and independent t test. The mean of communication performance evaluation scores in the intervention group (88.4±10.6) was significantly higher than the control group (79.0±17.9) (P=0.014). As Orem self- care model showed a 12% students performance increase, it is recommended to present a course on nursing theories for undergraduate students.