Research designed and conducted by Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, showed that nursing students' awareness of medical errors can be increased with “Medical Errors Room” simulation training, and that simulation training is more effective than the presentation method.
Errors occurring during the practices of nurses working in psychiatry clinics towards patients negatively affect patients, families, society, and nurses alike. Therefore, it is crucial for nurses to recognize situations causing medical errors and take necessary precautions to protect patients and themselves from harm.
The study conducted by Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, showed that using the 'Medical Errors Room' simulation, a cost-effective, applicable, and sustainable method in the education of nursing students who will be among future healthcare professionals, will contribute to increasing students' awareness and reducing error rates.
The impact of online simulation training was examined
The research examined the effect of online simulation training in increasing nursing students' awareness of medical errors they might encounter in psychiatry clinics. In this quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test control group design, the Intervention Group received 'Medical Errors Room' simulation training, while the Control Group received training using the presentation method.
The study determined that although there was an increase in medical error awareness among all students, the awareness of students in the intervention group was higher than that of students in the control group.
The 'Student Identification Form', 'Case Study Form for Individuals Diagnosed with Schizophrenia', and 'Medical Errors Identified in the Simulation Environment Form' were used for data collection.
A study was planned for an individual diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia
The data collection phase of the research began with a pre-test application. In the pre-test, students were asked to fill out the 'Student Identification Form' and the 'Case Study Form for Individuals Diagnosed with Schizophrenia' and to identify medical errors in the latter form. Students who completed the form were divided into intervention and control groups. One week after the pre-test, the intervention group received simulation training, while the control group received training on medical errors and patient safety using the presentation method. Both trainings were conducted online.
In the simulation training, whose scenario was created in Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences medical skills/simulation laboratory, a study was planned for an individual diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia who had been admitted due to anger and risk of harming their surroundings. An adult mannequin was placed on the bed in the simulation laboratory, and fifteen medical errors were created on the mannequin, within the patient file, and on the patient's bed.
Dr. Lecturer Aydan Akkurt Yalçıntürk: “Medical Errors Room simulation training will reduce error rates”
Dr. Lecturer Aydan Akkurt Yalçıntürk from Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, summarizing the research, stated, “It was concluded that the 'Medical Errors Room' simulation training can increase the awareness of nursing students, who will be among future healthcare professionals, regarding medical errors. At the end of the study, while the awareness of medical errors increased in both the intervention and control groups, it was determined that the awareness of students who received training with the online simulation method was higher than that of students who received training with the presentation method.”
Dr. Lecturer Aydan Akkurt Yalçıntürk said, “It is believed that increasing nursing students' awareness of medical errors that may occur in individuals with mental illness will improve the quality of care provided to these individuals after graduation and patient outcomes, prevent emotional problems such as guilt and depression caused by medical errors on nurses, and prevent professional disengagement, leaving the profession, and lawsuits that may be filed against nurses.”
“We believe the study will contribute to the literature”
Noting that innovative methods have been widely used in nursing program training processes in recent years, Yalçıntürk said, “One of these methods is simulation. When national and international literature is examined, we do not encounter a study where simulation training is used to increase nursing students' awareness of medical errors they might encounter in psychiatry clinics. Therefore, we believe this study will contribute to the literature. Considering the results of the study, we think that 'medical errors room' simulation training should also be used in different areas of nursing and in the post-graduation training of nurses.”
The study, which also included Üsküdar University Prof. Dr. Besti Üstün, was published on the www.psychiatricnursing.org website.