Improving nursing student self-confidence and competence through integrated public health care training

Background: Nurses are on the frontline in all health practice settings, including public health. It is important to prepare nursing students with public health care training to give them the confidence to practice in a public health center. This study aimed to examine the effects of integrated public health care training on the self-confidence and competence of nursing students. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was applied using a pre-test and post-test control group design. To collect data, simple random sampling was taken, involving 114 respondents (intervention group: n = 76; control group: n = 38). The data were compared between the two groups using independent t-test. The outcomes measured were self-confidence and competence. Results: The results revealed that integrated public health care training can effectively improve self-confidence and competence among nursing students. Following the intervention, the intervention group had a significantly higher self-confidence and competence score than the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Integrated public health care training can effectively improve self-confidence and competence among nursing students.