Browsing by Author "Similä, Hannes"

Paramedics meet critically injured patients and deliver advanced pre-hospital care. The profession requires comprehensive knowledge and education. A worry for patient safety and an increase in the popularity of learner-centered education has increased the use of simulation in paramedic education. Simulation enables students to safely practice on, for example, acute situations and teamwork. Despite that simulation is nowadays widely used in education of paramedics, and is viewed as an effective method for learning, there are few studies conducted in Finland of how students experience simulation. In previous international studies, it is shown that a higher satisfaction leads to an increase in engagement, learning, competence and finally better care for patients. Higher self-confidence can enhance critical thinking skills, leadershipskills and identification of knowledge gaps. The aim of this study is to explore and describe how paramedic students in a university of applied sciences experience satisfaction and self-confidence concerning simulation. Previousstudies of satisfaction and self-confidence and the model conducted by National League for Nursing and Pamela Jeffries is used as theoretical background for this study. The data was gathered via an electronic survey which was distributed to the paramedic students, a total of N = 92. The survey was answered by N = 29. A quantitative, descriptive method was used for this study and all group comparisons were measured with nonparametric tests. The results show that paramedic students are generally very satisfied with simulation. They also perceive high self-confidence. Some students experience disadvantages with fidelity in simulation and some experience levels of stress, but these do not have a negative effect on the overall level of satisfaction and self-confidence. The inexperienced students were more satisfied with the teacher than the experienced students. Work experience was significant with levels of satisfaction with debriefing. Debriefing seems to be an important factor which leads to students being satisfied with simulation.