Comparing Standardized Patient and Case-Based Pain Education in Nursing Students

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pain Management
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Effective pain management is essential in nursing care.
• Nursing students require training in pain assessment and management techniques.
• Standardized patient (SP) and case-based learning (CBL) are pedagogical methods used in healthcare education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of SP and CBL programs on nursing students' pain attitudes, self-efficacy, beliefs, and clinical skills self-efficacy.
• To compare the effectiveness of SP versus CBL in enhancing pain management competencies.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind randomized trial was conducted.
• Data were collected using validated questionnaires assessing attitudes, self-efficacy, and beliefs related to pain.
• The study involved three stages: theoretical education, laboratory practice, and clinical practice.

Main Results:

• Both SP and CBL groups showed significant improvements in pain management self-efficacy.
• The SP group demonstrated higher self-efficacy and organic belief scores at later time points compared to the CBL group.
• Attitudes toward pain assessment showed initial decreases then increases in the SP group, while the CBL group exhibited steady improvement.

Conclusions:

• Both SP and CBL are effective educational strategies for pain management in nursing students.
• The SP method yields more sustained improvements in self-efficacy and beliefs.
• A blended approach integrating both SP and CBL may offer the most comprehensive pain management education.