Developing a clinical judgment model-based online education program for palliative wound care in nursing homes: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Abstract Background Many issues when combined can make wound management complicated, including the types of wounds and symptoms most commonly affecting palliative care residents and the presence of concurrent comorbidities and their associated treatment in nursing homes. In those complex situations, a nursing staff's clinical judgment is essential for effective decision-making. This study aimed to (1) develop an e-learning program using the clinical judgment model to enhance clinical decision-making competencies and (2) examine the effectiveness of the developed education program. Methods In Step 1, developing the program, the characteristics of the learners and the necessary educational content were identified through qualitative interviews. Subsequently, the program was designed and created by considering the educational goals and content identified in the interviews. In Step 2, evaluating the program, its effectiveness was assessed using a quasi-experimental nonequivalent pretest-posttest design. The participants (n = 52) were randomly allocated into an experimental group (n = 26) and a control group (n = 26). Results The education program was developed based on the analysis of the educational needs suggested by 10 interviewees, who responded to 11 questions covering elements such as noticing, interpreting, responding, and reflecting, all based on the clinical judgment model. The results indicated that the e-learning program significantly improved clinical judgment in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusions This study developed an e-learning program for palliative wound care and assessed its impact on the clinical judgment of nursing staff in nursing homes. The results are expected to enhance palliative wound care competency and contribute to more effective nursing care for residents in nursing homes.