A quasi-experiment to evaluate the effects of a blended approach of simulation learning and podcasting on caring behaviours

Background: The need for quality nursing personnel in clinical practice expected nurse teachers to be able to impart instrumental and expressive aspects of caring behaviours to nursing students. Operating in a resource-limited higher educational context, nurse teachers are required to do so in a cost effective way. This study as part of a larger study evaluated the effects of a blended approach to learning of caring behaviours based on ‘modified’ medium-fidelity simulation scenarios and podcasting to repeat debriefs. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental, two group pre-test-post-test design. The study included 146 second year nursing students. Participants were divided into ‘intervention’ and ‘control’ groups and were asked to complete a caring behaviour inventory scale at various stages of the research study. Results: Students in the intervention group scored statistically higher, post receiving medium-fidelity simulation learning and higher post podcasting. The exposure to high fidelity simulation learning has resulted in the lower scoring in control group. Conclusions: This study highlights the value of a blended approach based on medium-fidelity simulation learning and podcasting. Successful learning of caring behaviours lies in the heart of a care-oriented teaching approach rather than the use of sophisticated technologies. This study has implications for a better practice in nursing education for developing student caring behaviours, it also has a wider implication for all vocational and non-nursing healthcare education.