3LLF2 - Enhancing Aggression Management Knowledge and Competencies through Mental Health Simulation in Omani Nursing Students

Abstract :

Background: Nursing education emphasizes skill development, traditionally through clinical training. Modern educational strategies like simulation are being adopted to enhance learning outcomes.

Objectives: To find the effect of simulation in terms of gain in the mean post-test aggression management knowledge and competency scores.

Design: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design was employed.

Methods: The data were measured using the Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire and Creighton’s Competency Evaluation Inventory. Anxiety levels toward simulation as a teaching strategy were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale of Anxiety (VAS-A) before and after the simulation.

Results: The results indicated that the participants were predominantly female (77.80%) and aged 21 (64.2%). The total mean score for aggression management knowledge increased from 12.18 to 15.71. Competency scores also showed substantial gains: cognitive domain scores rose by 1.25 (t(80) = 9.11, p < 0.001), psychomotor by 1.43 (t(80) = 12.55, p < 0.001), affective by 0.86 (t(80) = 7.17, p < 0.001), and total knowledge scores by 3.54 (t(80) = 14.39, p < 0.001).
There were marked improvements in students' competencies in assessment, communication, clinical judgment, and problem-solving. The total competency mean scores significantly increased from 19.48 to 34.06 (mean increase = 14.59, t(80) = 24.05, p < 0.001).
Anxiety levels decreased significantly post-simulation, with a mean decrease of 3.25 (t(80) = 15.54, p < 0.001), indicating that simulation reduced anxiety among nursing students.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that mental health simulation is an effective educational strategy for improving nursing students' knowledge and competencies in aggression management.

Please include a short summary of your presentation that highlights why an attendee would want to participate in your session.: Attendees will see how simulation not only reinforces aggression management skills but also significantly reduces anxiety levels, fostering confidence and clinical judgment in challenging scenarios. This session is particularly beneficial for educators, trainers, and healthcare practitioners seeking innovative ways to prepare nursing students for complex real-world mental health situations.