Perceived Benefits of Pre-Clinical Simulation-based Training on Clinical Learning Outcomes among Omani Undergraduate Nursing Students

Objectives: this study aimed to explore the benefits perceived by omani undergraduate maternitynursing students regarding the effect of pre-clinical simulation-based training (psbt) on clinical learning outcomes. methods: this non-experimental quantitative survey was conducted between august and december 2012 among third-year baccalaureate nursing students at sultan qaboos university in muscat, oman. voluntary participants were exposed to faculty-guided psbt sessions using low- and medium-fidelity manikins, standardised scenarios and skill checklists on antenatal, intranatal, postnatal and newborn care and assessment. participants answered a purposely designed self-administered questionnaire on the benefits of psbt in enhancing learning outcomes. items were categorised into six subscales: knowledge, skills, patient safety, academic safety, confidence and satisfaction. scores were rated on a four-point likert scale. results: of the 57 participants, the majority (95.2%) agreed that psbt enhanced their knowledge. most students (94.3%) felt that their patient safety practices improved and 86.5% rated psbt as beneficial for enhancing skill competencies. all male students and 97% of the female students agreed that psbt enhanced their confidence in the safe holding of newborns. moreover, 93% of participants were satisfied with psbt. conclusion: omani undergraduate nursing students perceived that psbt enhanced their knowledge, skills, patient safety practices and confidence levels in providing maternity care. these findings support the use of simulation training as a strategy to facilitate clinical learning outcomes in future nursing courses in oman, although further research is needed to explore the objective impact of psbt on learning outcomes.