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The Effect of Forum Theater on Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Forensic Psychiatric Patients
Hümeyra Hançer Tok1, Çiçek Ediz2, Lütfiye Nur Uzun3
1Department of Nursing, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Suşehir School of Health, Susehri, Sivas.
Aim:
To evaluate the impact of forum theater on nursing students' attitudes towards forensic psychiatric patients.
Methods:
Using a quasi-experimental, single-group, pretest/posttest design, twenty-five nursing students enrolled during the 2025-2026 academic year participated. Data were collected using a personal information form and an attitude scale for health care professionals towards forensic psychiatric patients. As part of the intervention, a three-hour forum theater-based educational programme was implemented. Pretest and posttest scores were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results:
After the forum theater intervention, a statistically significant increase was observed in participants' total attitude scores (p < 0.001). While significant increases were found in the Social Distance and Dangerousness subscale scores (p < 0.05), no significant changes were observed in the Willingness to Provide Care and Trust subscales (p > 0.05).
Discussion:
Forum theater is an effective educational method for reducing stigmatising attitudes towards forensic psychiatric patients among nursing students, and for promoting more accepting attitudes. From a public health nursing perspective, such experiential and participatory educational approaches are considered to be a significant means of combatting stigma within community-based mental health services.
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