Teaching the social determinants of health to nursing students with culturally diverse simulation: A quasi-experimental trial

Friday, June 14, 2024

3:30 PM - 4:15 PM East Coast USA Time

Location: 306

Presenter(s)

S. Asli Bozkurt, PhD, RN, CHSE

Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, MA, United States

Co-Author(s)

JW

Jenny Wong, RN, MSN

Simulation & Clinical Lab Ed Coordinator
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Priscilla Gazarian, PHD, CNS, RN

Department Chair and Associate Professor
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Co-Author(s)

RS

Rosemary Samia, MSN, RN, CHSE

Director, Center for Clinical Education and Research
University of Massachusetts Boston
Lakeville, Massachusetts, United States

Disclosure(s):

S. Asli Bozkurt, PhD, RN, CHSE: No financial relationships to disclose

Priscilla Gazarian, PHD, CNS, RN: No financial relationships to disclose

Abstract :

Introduction: While simulation has been predominantly employed in hospital-based clinical settings, there's a growing need for simulation scenarios focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH) within culturally diverse patient contexts to ensure both patient and student safety.

Objectives: The primary objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of innovative simulation scenarios centered around SDOH with culturally diverse patients. Additionally, we aimed to assess the impact of these new scenarios on cultural awareness and SDOH knowledge levels within standardized patient and manikin-based simulations.

Design: A single-blind quasi-experimental pretest-posttest trial with senior nursing students. This study adopted a parallel-group superiority trial design, following the NLN/Jeffries Simulation Framework for Simulated Participant Methodology.

Methods: We assessed changes in cultural awareness and SDOH knowledge levels among nursing students before and after simulation-based interventions. Our simulation scenarios were meticulously developed based on a literature review, with input from the instructor and students. The scenarios underwent validation by five content experts and reliability assessment by six content experts. Outcomes evaluators and participants remained blinded.

Results: Results showed that both simulation types significantly improved mean scores of the Cultural Awareness Scale (CAS) from the pretest to the posttest. There were no statistically significant differences between the standardized patient and manikin-based groups regarding CAS and SDOH Knowledge Survey scores after the intervention.

Conclusions: Simulation-based interventions hold the potential to enhance cultural awareness and SDOH knowledge in nursing students. It is noteworthy that using standardized patients may be more effective in improving SDOH knowledge.

Learning Objectives:

To verbalize the significance of incorporating social determinants of health (SDOH) into simulation scenarios and the implications for patient and student safety in culturally diverse healthcare contexts.
To examine the methodology and development process of the innovative simulation scenarios centered around SDOH with culturally diverse patients, including a detailed assessment of their validity and reliability.
To compare the impact of standardized patient vs. manikin-based simulations on cultural awareness and SDOH knowledge in nursing students and discuss implications for healthcare education.