Simulation-based training for nurses: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Simulation-based training is a common strategy to enhance healthcare quality.
• Previous systematic reviews have not established the impact of simulation-based training on registered nurses.
• This review aims to assess the effect of simulation-based training on nurses' skills and knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effects of simulation-based training on nurses' skills and knowledge.
• To evaluate simulation-based training compared to other learning strategies.
• To compare different simulation strategies and organizational methods.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified through comprehensive database searches (up to December 2016).
• Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias.
• Meta-analysis and narrative synthesis were used for data analysis, with GRADE used to assess evidence quality.

Main Results:

• Fifteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria.
• Simulation-based training showed a small, significant effect on nurses' skills compared to other learning strategies (SMD -1.09), with high heterogeneity (I² 85%).
• Other comparisons revealed significant between-study variation, and all evidence quality was rated as low.

Conclusions:

• The effectiveness of simulation-based training varies across studies.
• While simulation training appears to improve nurses' skills, the low quality of evidence necessitates caution.
• Further high-quality RCTs with adequate sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.