Problem-based learning; a new pathway towards improving patient safety-based communication skills in nursing students

Introduction: Nursing education plays a pivotal role in patient safety in complicated healthcare environments, and problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational method that has gained a remarkable reputation in higher education. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the effects of nursing education through the PBL method on patient safety-based communication skills in nursing students. Patients and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 78 fourth-year nursing students. The participants were divided into intervention (n=43) and control (n=35) groups. In the intervention groups, the educational content based on the PBL method was provided in eight sessions (45-60 minutes each). Data were collected using demographic and patient safety-based communication skills questionnaires. Results: No significant difference was observed in the mean score of patient safety-based communication skills in the control groups after the intervention (P=0.162). However, the intervention groups had significantly higher scores after the educational sessions (P=0.001). Conclusion: The implementation of the PBL method affected the patient safety-based communication skills of the nursing students. Thus, it is recommended that conventional teaching methods be replaced by PBL to improve the clinical and cognitive capabilities of nursing students.