Examining the Impact of Dramatization Simulation on Nursing Students’ Ethical Attitudes: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

This research investigated how dramatization simulation affected nursing students' ethical attitudes. Most nurses and nursing students encounter ethical issues in their healthcare practices. Students who receive an education in ethics are better equipped to solve ethical problems, develop ethical sensitivity, and adopt an ethical attitude. Dramatization simulation, which has recently been applied in nursing education, is said to be an effective teaching method. A mixed-method approach was employed in the research. The sample consisted of 60 students enrolled in the final year of the Nursing Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences at a State university. Students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, the dramatization simulation method was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the training method. The data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, Ethical Principles Attitude Scale, and Semi-Structured Focus Group Interview Form. SPSS 22 software was used to analyze the quantitative data, and Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis and MAXQDA 2020 software were used to analyze the qualitative data. The post-test total score of the group ethical attitude scale for the students in the experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05). Additionally, the students in the experimental group's post-test Ethical Attitude Scale total score outperformed those in the control group statistically significantly (p < 0.05). The following themes were found: (1) perspectives on dramatization simulation and (2) perspectives on ethical attitude. To help nursing students develop ethical attitudes, we recommend using dramatization simulation as a teaching method. In addition, we recommend that this study be conducted in larger sample groups and on different topics. The recommendations were explored in more detail in the article.