The intervention effect of a nursing-media studies convergence problem-based learning (PBL) program to improve nurses’ public image: Changed perceptions of program participants and students attended a PBL presentation

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Problem-based Learning (PBL) in an interdisciplinary college class. This class was run under the theme of ‘Nurse Social Content Creators’ (NSCC) in the Korean Nurses Association (KNA)’s industry-university collaborative project designed to promote a positive image of nurses among the public. Methods: Study 1 examined changes in perception about nurses among the PBL participants before and after the program. A one-group pre-post test experimental design was applied, and the data were analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Study 2 identified differences of perceptions of nurses between people who had observed the PBL final presentation and people who had not. A post-test-only with nonequivalent group experimental design was used, and the data were analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Study 1 revealed a significant increase of positive perceptions towards nurses. Study 2 revealed a significant difference between the PBL presentation audience group and the control group. Students who had observed the PBL program showed more positive perceptions of nurses than students who had not. Conclusion: This research is an important study with high practicality in the area of media studies as well as in nursing. The PBL teaching method was proven to be effective in enhancing perceptions of nurses.