The effects of an ethical principle applying program in simulation-based learning on ethical behaviors in pediatric nursing practice

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to study the effect of an ethical principle applying program in simulation-based learning on ethical behaviors in pediatric nursing practice. The sample consisted of 64 third-year nursing students selected via multi-stage random sampling. The sample was divided into 2 groups, including 32 nursing students in experimental groups and 32 nursing students in control groups.  The statistical power was set higher than the standard level according to Cohen’s criteria. The research was conducted during the first semester of the academic year 2024. The research tool was a simulation scenario of nursing care for a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who required chemotherapy. The data collection instruments included a questionnaire on ethical behavior in pediatric nursing practice and an assessment tool for ethical nursing behavior in a simulation scenario. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (including percentages, means, standard deviations), paired t-test, and independent t-tests.

The research results found that the experimental and control groups had very good mean scores on ethical behavior in pediatric nursing practice before and after the learning program. A statistically significant difference was found between the pre- and post-learning mean scores within each group (t=2.75, p-value=.01, t=2.30, p-value=.03 in the experimental and control groups, respectively). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups after the learning program (t=1.46; p-value=.13). The findings suggested that the program for ethical principle applying simulation-based learning could promote ethical behaviors in pediatric nursing practice, especially in complex clinical situations. Therefore, this approach can be applied in learning to develop ethical nursing skills effectively.