Comparison of two methods of instruction for the prevention of workplace violence

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the poster session format (PSF) with the traditional film discussion format (FDF) on posttest scores using the Violence in the Workplace Knowledge Test (VWKT) for hospital staff. The 25-item VWKT was developed by the authors. Both groups took this test as the pretest and posttest to determine whether there was a difference in ovrall test scores or a difference in score according to type of violence. The control group included a sample of newly hired staff (n = 51) in general hospital orientation who received training via the FDF method and took the posttest after the program. The experimental group included current staff (n = 84) who received training via the PSF. They "walked through" a poster session at their own pace, completing the posttest as they went along. The comparison of mean pretest scores on the VWKT for the two groups was not significantly different. However, the PSF group had greater improvement in test scores than the FDF group. Further analysis determined that the PSF group significantly improved in both types of violence compared to the FDF group. For this study, using an alternative teaching-learning strategy was more effective than the traditional method. Implications for staff development educators include the need to explore different methods of enhancing learning.