The Impact of High-Fidelity Simulation on Undergraduate Nursing students Performing Safe Medication Administration: A Systematised Review

Abstract

Background: Medication errors pose a significant risk to patient safety, highlighting the importance of well-trained nursing students. High-fidelity simulation has emerged as an effective teaching method in medication administration. However, due to variations in fidelity levels across reviewed studies and a focus on healthcare professionals in recent review, this review aims to assess the impact of HFS on the knowledge, competence, and confidence of undergraduate nursing students in performing safe medication administration. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, searches were conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, and ERIC databases for peer-reviewed publications between 2012 and 2023. Specific keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria were used to identify quantitative studies. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI tools, and findings were synthesised narratively. Results: A total of 148 studies, only seven studies were included. Synthesis of the data consistently demonstrated improvement in knowledge (p = 0.02-0.07), competence (p = 0.00- 0.66), and confidence (p = 0.04-0.96). Compared to control groups, students in the intervention groups achieved higher scores. However, the included studies had lower to moderate quality, limiting generalizability. Conclusion: High-fidelity simulation is a valuable approach for enhancing the knowledge, competence, and confidence of nursing students in medication administration. The findings provide important guidance for effective teaching practices. Further research is needed to improve the quality of evidence by using more robust methodologies. Additionally, future studies should investigate cost-effectiveness, develop reliable measurement tools, and determine the optimal duration for simulation sessions. Dissemination: The findings will be published in high-impact nursing education journals such as the "Journal of Nursing Education '' and presented as e-posters at the Saudi Conference for Health Simulation