High fidelity simulator experience for enhancing communication effectiveness: Applications to quality and safety education for nurses

Abstract

The United States Joint Commission identified miscommunication as the main cause of unexpected injuries and mortality not related to the patient’s medical condition. One strategy for improving information transfer and inter-professional communication is the Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) communication model. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of exposure to a real time high fidelity simulation experience.  A quasi-experimental design, consisting of one treatment group was conducted.  A purposeful sample of N = 45 respondents was drawn from students registered in an undergraduate level clinical course. Pre-tests and post-tests based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN's) Quality and Safety in Nursing Education (QSEN) were administered to measure if exposure to the simulation training impacted knowledge and attitudes regarding communication in the delivery of patient care.  Results based on a paired t-test revealed an 8.27 point increase in scores after exposure to the intervention. This outcome was highly significant (df = 44,  t = -4.86,  p = .000).  Although a few students did not appear to benefit, results suggest that exposure to the SBAR model during a high fidelity simulation experience is generally a successful method for enhancing student knowledge and attitudes regarding effective communication in health care.