Effects of hazard perception training (HPT) on nursing students' risk sensitivity to patient safety and developing safety control confidence

Purpose: This study identifies the effects of hazard perception training (HPT) on nursing students' risk sensitivities and safety control confidence.

Methods: The study uses a nonequivalent control group pre-and post-test design. The participants were 107 senior nursing students, 52 in the experimental group, and 55 in the control group. The experimental group was shown 5 hospital situation pictures to determine hazard sensitivity. Students' risk sensitivity scores and safety control confidence were measured pre-HPT and post-HPT.

Results: The experimental group showed significantly higher (on) total risk sensitivity score (t=12.47, p<0.001) and themes, such as fall down (t=19.33, p<0.001), preoperative time out (t=3.18, p<0.001), invasive treatment (t=12.40, p<0.001), and medication (t=10.98, p<0.001). However, the difference for telephone orders was insignificant between the experimental and control groups (t=-0.17, p=0.864). In addition, difference of mean scores for safety control confidence was insignificant between the experimental and the control groups (t=1.10, p=0.275).

Conclusion: Nursing education should incorporate hazard perception training more often, and educators need to develop education programs to improve nursing students' safety control confidence. Further, a Hazard Perception Training (HPT) that incorporates various kinds of educational methods for students majoring in healthcare fields is needed.