A poverty simulation to enhance nursing student knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward people living in poverty

Background: Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families. Unless one has lived in a poverty situation, it can be difficult to understand the challenges people face.

Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre- and post-test design (36 select-items from four-established instruments) that measured students' self-perceived knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards people living in poverty. All undergraduate, pre-licensure, senior-level nursing students enrolled in a community nursing course (fall 2018-fall 2019, n = 254) participated in a face-to-face interactive Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) with a focus on the QSEN concept of patient-centered care. The winter 2020 semester, the simulation was not offered because of the coronavirus pandemic; these students (n = 96) served as a comparison group.

Results: Paired-samples t-tests revealed knowledge, skill, and attitude mean scores, were improved for all students with the exception of social justice attitudes (improved only for the non-simulation group). Independent-samples t-tests revealed simulation students had higher knowledge, skill, and attitude scores on the Adapted CAPS Assessment and Active Learning Measure. Non-simulation participants had higher Political Awareness scores.

Conclusion: These results indicated the CAPS appears to be an effective simulation to change students' self-perceived knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding people whose incomes are low or who are living in poverty.