Examining Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem in Healthcare Students Participating in an Interprofessional Critical Care Simulation

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional education (IPE) is becoming increasingly encouraged in healthcare. However, a lack of consensus exists in how IPE should be provided. The research at hand examines changes in self-efficacy and self-esteem in 132 nursing, dietetic, physician assistant, and social work students when participating in a critical care simulation. The simulation focused on a septic patient requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

METHOD: This quantitative, repeated measures and correlational study utilized the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to examine a possible relationship between self-efficacy and self-esteem. In addition, exploration of changes in self-efficacy and self-esteem after participating in the cardiopulmonary simulation was conducted.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant medium, positive correlational relationship between self-efficacy and self-esteem in healthcare students participating in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation simulation (p<0.001). Healthcare students did not experience statistically significant gains in self-efficacy and self-esteem (p>0.05). During debriefing, students expressed experiencing role confusion when working with each other.

CONCLUSION: More IPE experiences, including in mock code simulations, is necessary to enhance communication, collaboration, and prevent role confusion.

HIGHLIGHTS:

More interprofessional education is necessary to prevent role confusion
Self-efficacy and self-esteem have a positive correlation in IPE critical care simulation