Effect of Simulation-based Medical Education in Small Groups on Improving the Quality of Nursing Care in Patients Under Electroconvulsive Therapy

Background: Considering the high risk and vital nature of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) process, as well as the subsequent intensive, essential, and life-saving cares, it is necessary to promote the skills of nurses providing this kind of care. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of simulation on developing the quality of care in nurses working in the ECT department. Methods: This experimental study compared two groups before and after the intervention. Fifty nurses who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control. Low-tech (static) task trainer was used for simulation-based medical education (SBME) in the intervention group. Data were collected using a checklist to investigate the quality of nursing care before and after the intervention. Results: The mean scores obtained from initial preparation subscales, preparation of tools and equipment, measures during ECT, post-ECT measures, and checking patient’s status in pre-test and post-test in the intervention group were significantly different. This suggests that simulation intervention in small groups is effective in improving the quality of nursing care in ECT (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results showed that promoting ECT nursing care knowledge among the nurses in small groups by simulation method is an effective intervention.