Promoting patient safety among nursing students: A mixed-method study on collaborative cross-cultural learning

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Patient Safety
• Cross-Cultural Studies

Background:

• Patient safety is critical for quality nursing care.
• Studies indicate nursing students may not consistently adhere to patient safety guidelines.
• Understanding student perspectives is key to improving patient safety practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of collaborative cross-cultural learning between Singaporean and Korean nursing students.
• To develop insights into patient safety through international student collaboration.
• To understand student perspectives on collaborative learning and patient safety.

Main Methods:

• Pilot study utilizing a mixed-method embedded design.
• Online collaborative learning sessions conducted between August and December 2023.
• Pre- and post-intervention surveys and interviews with Singaporean nursing students (n=12) and online sessions with Korean students (n=16).

Main Results:

• Participants reported enhanced perspectives on medical errors and patient safety post-collaboration.
• Key themes identified: intercultural communication, curriculum design, personal attributes, and online platform impact.
• Cross-cultural learning positively influenced student attitudes and perspectives on patient safety.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative cross-cultural learning, aligned with connectivism, is feasible for enhancing patient safety insights.
• This approach strengthens students' personal beliefs and promotes patient safety in clinical settings.
• The study identified and addressed challenges in online collaborative cross-cultural learning for equitable participation.