Evaluation of an assertiveness training program on nursing and medical students' assertiveness, self-esteem, and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Healthcare students often face challenges with assertiveness, impacting their professional development.
• Low assertiveness can negatively affect self-esteem and interpersonal interactions.
• Effective training interventions are needed to support student growth in these areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an assertiveness training program on nursing and medical students.
• To evaluate changes in assertiveness, self-esteem, and interpersonal communication satisfaction.
• To determine the effectiveness of a structured, multi-session training intervention.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study with 69 nursing and medical students identified with low assertiveness.
• Random assignment to an experimental group (receiving assertiveness training) or a matched comparison group.
• Data collection using validated scales (Assertive Scale, Esteem Scale, etc.) pre-training, post-training, and at follow-up.
• Statistical analysis using generalized estimating equations (GEE).

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in assertiveness levels were observed in the experimental group post-training.
• A significant increase in self-esteem was noted among students who underwent assertiveness training.
• Interpersonal communication satisfaction did not show a statistically significant improvement following the training program.

Conclusions:

• Assertiveness training is an effective intervention for enhancing assertiveness and self-esteem in nursing and medical students.
• While communication skills are crucial, this specific training program did not yield significant improvements in communication satisfaction.
• Further research may explore tailored interventions to enhance interpersonal communication satisfaction alongside assertiveness.