Effect of Smartphone-Based Education on Students’ Skills in Managing Traumatized Patients: Pre-Test and Post-Test Design with A Control Group

Abstract

Background: Given the undeniable role of nurses in caring for traumatic patients, the best method for teaching skills to nursing students should be selected. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of smartphone-based education on the clinical skills of undergraduate nursing students when confronting traumatic patients. Methods: This study was conducted on 82 nursing students. The students in both intervention and control groups were evaluated using the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians' Skills Sheets for trauma skills before and one month after the intervention. Results: The mean post-test score in 9 clinical skills of trauma in the intervention group (113.26±11.39, t=18.715, p <0.001) was significantly higher than those of the control group (52.92±13.23, t=3.352, p=0.002). The effect of the intervention on the clinical skill of trauma was greater than 0.7, indicating that the smartphone software had a high effect on improving each skill. Conclusion: The smartphone-based education programs can be used as an accessible and easy method for the education of nursing students.