Dr. Thomas Prola, representing the European Union-funded CLINICALSIM project, presented new research at the EDUTRENDS Conference demonstrating how clinical simulation is strengthening undergraduate nursing education in Angola. The presentation showcased the first evidence of the project’s impact at José Eduardo dos Santos University and the International University of Cuanza, where simulation-based learning has improved students’ educational experiences and clinical competencies.
The study forms part of the CLINICALSIM project. The project’s goal is to strengthen nursing education in Angola through the addition of clinical simulation into undergraduate curriculum. CLINICALSIM addresses the educational needs identified in Angola and supports community health by improving the practical training of future nurses.
The research studied the perceptions of nursing students following the participation of the simulation based training. It focused on their satisfaction, learning outcomes, clinical reasoning, self confidence, and overall educational experience. It also evaluated the reliability of the questionnaire that was used to assess these outcomes.
A cross sectional study was conducted with 385 undergraduate nursing students who completed simulation activities within their curriculum. At the end of each session the participants completed a questionnaire that was designed to measure multiple educational dimensions associated with simulation based learning. Researchers did psychometric analyses to see if the project was to be used in Angolan higher education.
The results showed there were high levels of student satisfaction with the simulation. The students reported that the program increased their confidence in clinical practice, strengthened their clinical reasoning skills and improved learning overall. These results give the first evidence that the implementation of the simulations within nursing programs is successful.
Researchers say the outcomes validate the merit of the simulation as a learning tool that strengthens competency based nursing education, especially in settings where resources are limited. This tool gives educators a reliable way to monitor educational outcomes and guide quality improvement.
The implementation of this simulation through the CLINICALSIM project marks an important step toward modernizing nursing education in Angola. Researchers recommend future studies to examine the long term effects on clinical performance and patient care, while expanding its use to more universities.
