Low-fidelity simulation for necrotic wound debridement: design, implementation, and student satisfaction in undergraduate nursing education

Abstract

Dependency-related skin lesions and pressure injuries are among the most common. Competence in wound care is implicit in the nursing profession. The actual simulation models are limited by the accessibility of materials (sometimes even unrealistic hard plastics, impossible to work on the wound) and cost. AIM: a) to describe the development of an innovative silicone simulation model of severe necrotising wounds, and b) to evaluate the educational feasibility of the intervention through student satisfaction, self-confidence, and knowledge acquisition. PARTICIPANTS: Surveyed 380 students in the second year of a nursing degree program at a public university in Spain (2022-2023), n = 361 valid surveys were obtained (Global response rate: 95%). DESIGN: The current study is a quasi-experimental study with a post-test design. 1) Theoretical content distributed in four sessions. 2) Session five: Clinical simulation workshop with the new ulcer silicone model. The students performed common necrotic tissue removal techniques using our innovative mould, which is not commercially available. RESULTS: The Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scale was used. Opinion improved in 2023, where seminar 5 was given more specifically. The median sum of parameters increases in the second year, and students' perception improves when the seminar is taught. CONCLUSION: The simulation was associated with high levels of student satisfaction and self-confidence and acceptable knowledge scores. The model appears to be a feasible and low-cost educational tool for undergraduate nursing education. Further studies using objective performance-based assessments are needed to determine its impact on procedural competence.