The effect of Problem-Based Learning on Care Management skills: A quasi-experimental study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Distance Learning
• Pedagogical Methods

Background:

• Care Management skills are crucial for nursing practice.
• Assessing the impact of innovative teaching methods on skill development is essential.
• Problem-Based Learning (PBL) offers a potential framework for enhancing these skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the preliminary impact of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) on the Care Management skills of nursing students.
• To compare the effectiveness of PBL with traditional teaching methods in a remote education context.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test design was employed.
• The study involved 29 students in the Experimental Group (PBL) and 74 in the Control Group (traditional teaching).
• Care Management skills were assessed using a self-reporting instrument before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• The Experimental Group demonstrated significantly higher scores in analytical, action-related, and global Care Management skills compared to the Control Group (p<0.05).
• No significant differences were observed in interpersonal skills or information utilization between the groups.
• The Experimental Group showed significant pre- to post-test improvement (p<0.05), while the Control Group did not.

Conclusions:

• Problem-Based Learning is an effective pedagogical strategy for developing Nursing Care Management skills.
• PBL shows significant promise as a method for remote nursing education.
• Further research is warranted to explore the full potential of PBL in nursing education.