The Educational Effects of a Pregnancy Simulation in Medical/Nursing Students and Professionals

Jeeyoon Yu, Yoohyun Chung, Jung Eum Lee, Dae Hun Suh, Jeong Ha Wie, Hyun Sun Ko, In Yang Park, Jong Chul Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate whether a pregnancy experience program (PREP) simulating physical changes in a mother during the last trimester of pregnancy could increase empathy, understanding, and positive attitude of medical/nursing students and their professional counterparts. Methods: This was a prospective observational study on medical/nursing students and their professional counterparts. Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE), physical difficulty and positive attitude score, and perceived effectiveness scores prior to PREP were compared to those after PREP. Results: A total of 189 participants completed PREP and questionnaires both prior to and after PREP. Mean JSPE score, physical difficulty score, and positive attitude scores were significantly increased following PREP (p<0.001, all). Perceived effectiveness scores about awareness, empathy, and understanding after PREP were significantly high in the professional group than in the student group (p=0.004, p=0.01, and p=0.017, respectively). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that major in medicine (p = 0.014), health care professionals (nurse or physician) (p<0.001), and marriage experience (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of increasing empathy, difficulty feelings and effectiveness scores, respectively. Conclusion: PREP is an effective simulation program that can improve empathy, positive attitude, and awareness in medical/nursing students as well as their professional counterparts.

Original languageEnglish
Article number168
JournalBMC Medical Education
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 24 May 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Pregnancy
  • Simulation
  • attitude
  • awareness
  • empathy

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