Effectiveness of virtual patient simulation versus peer simulation in family planning training in midwifery students: a comparative educational intervention

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of two simulation types used for family planning consultation of midwifery students and to compare these methods. This study was conducted at a university in Kastamonu, Turkey, in 2020–2021. The sample of the study was 90 midwifery students. The family planning skill training and communication skills of the students were evaluated by watching the video recordings in the virtual patient simulation (VPS) and under the supervision of the instructor in the peer simulation (PS). In each instructional environment, the students’ satisfactions were evaluated. Students’ Knowledge scores of family planning increased after web-based training (38.3%; 67.9%) The mean scores for communication skills (VPS = 72.1; PS = 63.7) were found higher in VPS and family planning counseling skills (VPS = 66.5; PS = 77.6) were found in PS (p < .01). As the education environments were getting more like the reality, the students’ not to used communication skills effectively and stress levels were found higher. VSP and PS are thought to be effective development of students’ competency. The use of different simulation types can be integrated into midwifery education and contribute to the development of students’ knowledge, skills, and communication levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Patient simulation
• students
• family planning
• communication
• peer simulation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Kastamonu Üniversitesi [grant number KÜ-BAP01/2019-62].

Notes on contributors

Şahika Şimşek Çetinkaya

Şahika Şimşek Çetinkaya works as an assistant professor at Kastamonu University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery in Turkey. Her research interests include mobile learning and digital game-based learning and simulation, midwifery education.

Gülçin Gümüş Çalış

Gülçin Gümüş Çalış is a nurse in Kastamonu University Training and Research Hospital. Her research interests include family planning, simulation, midwifery education and breastfeeding.

Şerife Kıbrıs

Şerife Kıbrıs is a lecturer at Kastamonu University Vehicle Rafet Vergili Vocational School. Her fields of study are nursing, health management and organization, family planning, and simulation.

Mehmet Topal

Mehmet Topal is a professor at Amasya University, Faculty of Medicine. His fields of study are biostatistics and statistics education.