Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: To determine the effectiveness of clinical simulation in developing cognitive, procedural, and attitudinal competencies among health sciences students at a public university in Ecuador during the 2025–2026 academic period. It was hypothesized that the experimental group would obtain significantly higher scores in all three evaluated dimensions compared to the control group. A quantitative, quasi-experimental study was conducted using a pretest-posttest design with a non-equivalent control group. The sample comprised 48 third-year Medical and Nursing students divided into an experimental group and a control group, selected through intentional non-probability sampling. A validated competency questionnaire and an analytical clinical performance rubric were applied at three time points: pretest, immediate posttest, and deferred posttest. Statistical analysis included the paired-samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Cohen's d effect size. The experimental group achieved a mean gain of 2.31 points in cognitive competencies, 2.67 points in procedural competencies, and 1.89 points in attitudinal competencies, compared to non-significant gains in the control group. Learning retention at four weeks was maintained in 91.3% of experimental group cases. Clinical simulation proved to be a highly effective pedagogical strategy for the comprehensive development of health sciences competencies, with large effect sizes across all evaluated dimensions. These findings provide evidence to support its systematic incorporation into health university curricula in the Ecuadorian and Latin American context.
Author: Luisana Belén García Jiménez
Institution: Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7165137241