[The Effectiveness of a Pap Smear Screening Practical Skills Training Program for Nurse-Midwifery Students]

Pap smear screenings effectively reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. However, the effectiveness of practical teaching strategies for this procedure is seldom discussed.

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Pap smear screening training approach using the two strategies of classroom simulation and practical community screening demonstrations.

Convenience sampling was used to recruit undergraduate students enrolled between 2021 and 2023 in the nursing midwifery department of a national university. Data were collected between September 2023 and June 2024 and analyzed using a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The learning outcomes considered included self-directed learning ability and practical ability performance in cervical smear procedures. Self-directed learning ability was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire, while practical ability performance was separately evaluated by two instructors using direct observation.

Fifty-two students were enrolled as participants. Over time, and with the changes in teaching strategies, significant improvements were observed in self-directed learning ability in terms of mean total and subscale scores. In addition, DOPS scores showed a significant increase in practical ability performance.

Integrating clinical hands-on training into classroom-based simulation teaching can enhance autonomous learning, improve skill proficiency, and foster future self-directed learning and practical abilities in students to promote women's health.