title: Evaluating high-fidelity human simulators and standardized patients in an undergraduate nursing health assessment course.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An undergraduate nursing health assessment course provided three experiential modalities for practicing health assessment skills: high-fidelity human simulators (HFS), standardized patients (SP) and community volunteers (CV). Previous research has examined the impact of each distinct modality on learning outcomes. However, few studies have compared these learning strategies. This study investigates learners' satisfaction, self-efficacy and performance behaviors among three learning approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four undergraduate nursing students were randomly assigned to perform focused respiratory assessments on a HFS, SP or CV. Participants completed the Health Assessment Educational Modality Evaluation (HAEME) survey to assess self-efficacy and modality satisfaction. A performance checklist evaluated assessment skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Performance behaviors were significantly greater with HFS, but learners were significantly less satisfied with this modality. Significant differences in students' self-efficacy were not found across the three modalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significantly lower satisfaction with HFS may reflect learners' perceived lack of realism. However, HFS may provide a low-stress opportunity for novice learners to practice skills. Results support the integration of distinct experiential learning modalities in an undergraduate nursing health assessment course.
authors.affiliation: Queen's University, School of Nursing, 92 Barrie Street, Kingston, ON, Canada. mfl1@queensu.ca
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luctkar-Flude
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilson-Keates
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larocque
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008348:Manikins; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*