Contributions of Clinical Simulation to Group Cohesion: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Nursing
• Teamwork Dynamics

Background:

• Complex healthcare systems necessitate cohesive teams for safe, high-quality patient care.
• Clinical simulation is a proven pedagogical strategy for developing collaborative skills in healthcare students and professionals.
• Enhancing team cohesion is crucial for effective interprofessional collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of clinical simulation learning on group cohesion within nursing student teams.
• To analyze changes in task-oriented and social dimensions of group cohesion after simulation-based training.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post quasi-experimental study design was employed without a control group.
• Final-year nursing students participated in clinical simulation sessions.
• The short Spanish version of the Group Environment Questionnaire was administered pre- and post-simulation.

Main Results:

• Clinical simulation led to significant improvements in most group cohesion items and all dimensions.
• Moderate to large effect sizes (r > 0.5) were observed, indicating substantial impact.
• The Group Integration-Task (GI-T) dimension demonstrated the most significant improvement.

Conclusions:

• Clinical simulation is associated with enhanced group cohesion, encompassing both task and social aspects, in nursing students.
• Findings suggest clinical simulation positively influences collaboration, communication, and commitment to shared goals.
• Further research with control groups is recommended to confirm causality and explore broader impacts on team performance.