The effect of evaluator presence in simulated scenarios on basic life support: a randomized study

To assess the theoretical knowledge of nursing students before and after an educational intervention, investigating the impact of the direct and indirect presence of the evaluator on the students' skills in a simulated clinical scenario of basic life support.

randomized clinical trial, developed between October and December 2023, at a federal university in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Seventy-three fourth-year students were included, with five student losses during the study. The initial sample consisted of 68 students, randomized into a control group (n=33) and an experimental group (n=35). For the experimental group, the evaluator could not be seen during their access to the scenario; for the control group, the presence of the evaluator was visible. To compare the groups, the chi-square test was used for categorical variables, ANOVA for intragroup differences, and Student's t for independent samples for intergroup analysis.

there was an increase in the means of the theoretical test (<0.001) between the pre-test and post-test, in both groups. In the evaluation of the students' skills in basic life support, there was no significant difference between the groups (p=0.455).

there was retention of theoretical knowledge and skills in both groups, regardless of the presence of the evaluator. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry: RBR-8tvzdr7.