Introduction: Advanced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ACLS) training is one of the key components in enhancing nurses' knowledge and competence.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of two educational methods-simulation-based and multimedia-based—on nursing students’ knowledge regarding advanced resuscitation.
Material and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2024 (1403 in the Iranian calendar) on 90 sixth-semester undergraduate nursing students at military Nursing School. Participants were randomly assigned into three equal groups: simulation-based training, multimedia-based training, and a control group. The students’ knowledge of advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation was assessed before and two weeks after the intervention using a researcher-developed Advanced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Knowledge Questionnaire. The simulation group received two 60-minute practical training sessions using high-fidelity manikins in the clinical skills center. The multimedia group received the same educational content through an interactive software program. The control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and a significance level of less than 0.5.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 22.83. The majority of the study participants were female (54.4%). The findings showed that before and after the intervention, a significant difference was observed in the knowledge scores between the three groups (P<0.001). The level of knowledge in the simulation-based training group increased significantly before (8.2 ±31) and after the intervention (19.30±4.57) (P<0.001). Also, the knowledge in the multimedia group increased significantly before (9.46±2.37) and after the intervention (11.43±2.96) (P= 0.006). The knowledge score in the control group decreased significantly before (9.56±2.72) and after the intervention (8.23±30) (P=0.09). There was no significant difference in the knowledge score between two training groups (P=0.816).
Conclusion: Both simulation-based and multimedia-based training methods effectively improved students’ knowledge of advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with the simulation method demonstrating a greater impact.