A Need Assessment for Communication Skills Training among Nursing Science Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/cbj57432Keywords:
Communication Skills, Needs Assessment, Nursing Students, Experiential Learning, Universiti MalayaAbstract
This study evaluated the communication skills and training needs of nursing students at Universiti Malaya using a cross-sectional quantitative design. Based on a needs assessment framework, a structured online questionnaire assessed five core areas: student personal characteristics, patient characteristics, medical team characteristics, theoretical knowledge level, and educator support. A total of 230 valid responses were collected. Results showed that nursing students' overall communication ability was at an upper-middle level, indicating effectiveness in most clinical situations. However, notable deficiencies remained in handling complex or high-pressure situations and enhancing self-efficacy. The study analyzed findings through social constructivism, experiential learning theory, and self-efficacy theory, emphasizing the need for multi-dimensional teaching strategies. Accordingly, nursing education should strengthen practical, contextualized content by integrating diverse cultural backgrounds and technological innovations, particularly virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), to create immersive learning environments that enhance communication skills and self-efficacy in diverse clinical settings. This study provides empirical support for reforming nursing communication courses and offers theoretical guidance for improving student communication with patients and multidisciplinary teams. Limitations include the single-institution sample, reliance on self-reported data, and the cross-sectional design, which cannot track developmental trajectories across learning stages.
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