Understand the student perception on Case study analysis as a method of teaching in enhancing their knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving ability, communication, collaboration, and teamwork.
Methods:
Qualitative research design with multiple focus groups discussion was used as a design. The study was conducted among Nursing students, who is registered the Maternal Health Nursing Theory course and Child Health Theory Course in the College of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University during Spring 2018.The researcher used purposive sampling technique to ensure that all the participants chosen were capable of actively participating and discussing their views in the focus group discussions. The proposal was submitted to the Research and Ethics Committee in the College of Nursing for research and ethical approval. The participants were informed about the study purpose in detail, those who are ready to participate were asked to sign an informed written consent. The discussion was voice recorded with the consent of the students.The data were analyzed after the verbatim transcription of the group discussion audio recording. Thematic statements were isolated then compared and discussed in depth by the researchers until consensus emerged.
Results:
Students verbalized that they found the case study analysis as a great methodology to learn the disease conditions. It enhanced their critical thinking ability. One student mentioned that “the method of teaching increased my ability to think critically as the cases are the situations, where we need to think to solve the situation”. The same way another student said “they could relate with the condition they have seen in the clinical area, so this has given me a chance to recall the condition and related with the theory to practice”.
Students also expressed their views of case study analysis as a strategy for teaching method, which improved their communication and collaboration. One of the student mentioned “as it was done in a way of group discussion, we could do more communication with the group to discuss on the condition, learn from each other and the skill improved as they progressing to analyze the case study”.
Students also expressed the advantage of such methodology inclusion in the theory class. One of the student verbalized that “I could able to perform well in the in course exams as this teaching method enhanced my understanding about the content rather than memorizing”.
The students felt this method of teaching reduces the gap between theory and practice. As mentioned by one student “when I was caring with the women in antenatal, I could understand the condition better and could plan her care well”.
Conclusion:
The researchers concluded that the students perceived the case study analyze method as one of the best method in class room teaching method as it has made them achieve the role competencies such as critical thinking, problem solving, communicator and collaborators, which is very much essential as future nurses.