Effectiveness of debriefing for meaningful learning-enhanced simulation-based learning for emergency nurses’ perceptions, attitudes and coping strategies toward workplace violence: A stratified randomized trial

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a situated learning strategy combined with debriefing for meaningful learning in improving perceptions of workplace violence, attitudes, communication competence, coping confidence and coping strategies among emergency department nurses. Background: Workplace violence is a global issue that is detrimental to healthcare workers’ physical and psychological health and disrupts organizational functioning. Design: A stratified randomized experimental design was employed. Methods: Data were collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at two weeks post-intervention using validated instruments. Outcomes included perceptions of workplace violence, attitudes, communication competence, coping confidence and coping strategies. One hundred and twenty-two emergency department nurses were recruited. The control group received a traditional lecture and group discussion, while the experimental group received the same lecture, three situated learning scenarios and debriefing for meaningful learning. Results: A total of 119 emergency department nurses participated (mean age = 29.4 (SD 4.75) years; mean emergency department experience = 6.8 (SD 4.24 years; 89.1 % women). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics or pre-test scores between groups. Generalized estimating equation analysis showed that the experimental group had significantly greater improvements in communication competence (β = 3.766, p = 0.037) and coping confidence (β = 3.073, p = 0.032) at two weeks post-intervention. Conclusion: Simulation-based training combined with debriefing for meaningful learning effectively enhances communication skills and coping confidence in addressing workplace violence. Regular implementation may improve nurse well-being and foster a safer clinical environment.