Effect of Simulation-based Medical Education in Small Groups on Improving the Quality of Nursing Care in Patients Under Electroconvulsive Therapy

 Considering the high risk and vital nature of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) process, as well as the subsequent intensive, essential, and life-saving cares, it is necessary to promote the skills of nurses providing this kind of care.

 This study aimed to determine the effect of simulation on developing the quality of care in nurses working in the ECT department.

 This experimental study compared two groups before and after the intervention. Fifty nurses who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control. Low-tech (static) task trainer was used for simulation-based medical education (SBME) in the intervention group. Data were collected using a checklist to investigate the quality of nursing care before and after the intervention.

 The mean scores obtained from initial preparation subscales, preparation of tools and equipment, measures during ECT, post-ECT measures, and checking patient’s status in pre-test and post-test in the intervention group were significantly different. This suggests that simulation intervention in small groups is effective in improving the quality of nursing care in ECT (P < 0.05).

 Our results showed that promoting ECT nursing care knowledge among the nurses in small groups by simulation method is an effective intervention.