title: An evaluation of a course on the rational use of medication in nursing from the perspective of the students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objectives of educational instruction on the rational use of medication are to teach students about frequent pharmaceutical applications, dosage calculations, observation of adverse side effects and patient training. A simulation project was used in nursing education/medical staff education to effectively gain knowledge and skills.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, our first aim was to investigate the effect of using a simulated patient as a teaching method on the performance of students in medication administration. Our second aim was to explore the students' views on the simulated patient teaching method in terms of the skills acquired in administering medication.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed and carried out as a quasi-experimental investigation in Turkey between September 2011 and December 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants in the study were senior nursing students at a nursing school in Turkey. The data from eighty-five nursing students were obtained both at pretest and posttest. The views of all eighty-two students regarding a course on the rational use of medications were taken into consideration. Simulated patients were used throughout the entire course.
  
  
  METHODS
  An objectively constructed evaluation form (OCEF) was administered both at pretest and posttest to obtain participant feedback on a course on the rational use of medication. Descriptive statistics and a paired sample t-test were used in the data analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean pre-test score on the evaluation form was 24.02 ± 16.06, whereas the mean post-test score was 54.28 ± 14.54. Therefore, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean pre- and post-test scores (p<0.01; t=14.35).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a simulated patient in a course on the rational use of medication proved effective. Furthermore, the students gave positive feedback regarding the use of the simulated patient as a teaching method.
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Nursing, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: vunver@gata.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Vesile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Unver
authors.forename: Tülay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Başak
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: İyigün
authors.forename: Sevinç
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taştan
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demiralp
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yıldız
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Gülşah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Köse
authors.forename: Çiğdem
authors.initials: Ç
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Ayşegül Soydan
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Çelikel
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hatipoglu
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult