Effect of Problem-Based Learning on Decision-Making Skills among the Undergraduate Nursing Students

A. El-Guindy, Hoda; Mostafa Younes Abdelfatah, Boshra; Ahmed Mohammed  Abd El Salam, Faten; Gouda Ahmed Abd-Elmoghith, Nagwa

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2021.246621

Effect of Problem-Based Learning on Decision-Making Skills among the Undergraduate Nursing Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant professor at Nursing Administration Department, Faculty of Nursing, Beni-Suef University

² Lecturer of Nursing administration, Faculty of Nursing, Aswan University

³ Lecturer of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

⁴ Assistant Professor of Nursing Administration, Faculty of Nursing, Kafrelsheikh University

10.21608/ejhc.2021.246621

Abstract

Background: Making a decision is a behavior that occurs when a person chooses and implements a
course of action from a set of options to address a specific situation or problem. As a result,
educators should employ new teaching methods such as problem-based learning )PBL) to help
students improve their problem-solving and decision-making skills. Aim: To evaluate the effect of
problem-based learning on decision-making skills among undergraduate nursing students. Subjects
and method: Design: To achieve the study's aim, a quasi-experimental research design was used.
Setting: the study was conducted in the Faculty of Nursing, Beni-Suef University. Subjects: based
on a convenient sampling of all 356 available undergraduate nursing students in the fourth academic
year were selected from previous setting that were divided into two groups "study contained 178
and control contained 178 students" in 2020/2021 academic year. Three tools were used: (I)
Problem-based Skills Evaluation Sheet, (II) Nursing Students’ Decision Making Skills Scale, Tool
(III): Student's Feedback Questionnaire. Results: The study's findings revealed that there were no
statistically significant differences between the study and control groups before intervention. It was
observed that 63% of the studied undergraduate nursing students were searched for alternative
options compared to 43% in the control group, 66% were canvassing of objectives and values
compared to 46% in the control group, 59% were evaluated and re-evaluated of consequences
compared to 43% in the control group, and 67% were search for information and unbiased
assimilation of new information compared to 41% in the control group. The mean scores of
decision-making skills in the study group students increased after applying PBL than before
application with a statistically significant difference (p =< .001). Conclusion: The findings of the
study concluded that problem-based learning has a positive role in improving undergraduate nursing
students' decision-making skills. Recommendations: Encourage application of problem-based
learning in education among undergraduate nursing students that help improve their decision
making skills.

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