[The Effectiveness of a Pap Smear Screening Practical Skills Training Program for Nurse-Midwifery Students].

Background: Pap smear screenings effectively reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. However, the effectiveness of practical teaching strategies for this procedure is seldom discussed.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Pap smear screening training approach using the two strategies of classroom simulation and practical community screening demonstrations.

Methods: Convenience sampling was used to recruit undergraduate students enrolled between 2021 and 2023 in the nursing midwifery department of a national university. Data were collected between September 2023 and June 2024 and analyzed using a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The learning outcomes considered included self-directed learning ability and practical ability performance in cervical smear procedures. Self-directed learning ability was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire, while practical ability performance was separately evaluated by two instructors using direct observation.

Results: Fifty-two students were enrolled as participants. Over time, and with the changes in teaching strategies, significant improvements were observed in self-directed learning ability in terms of mean total and subscale scores. In addition, DOPS scores showed a significant increase in practical ability performance.

Conclusions / implications for practice: Integrating clinical hands-on training into classroom-based simulation teaching can enhance autonomous learning, improve skill proficiency, and foster future self-directed learning and practical abilities in students to promote women's health.