The Effects of Case-Based Learning on Critical Thinking Skills among Nursing Students

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to compare the critical thinking skills of nursing students before and after using case-based learning, and to study the level of satisfaction of the nursing students. The participants were 105 third-year nursing students who enrolled in the mental health and psychiatric nursing course at Metharath University. The research instruments consisted of five processes of case-based learning lesson plans, handouts, the critical thinking skill test, and the satisfaction questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; means, standard deviations, and a paired t-test. The results indicate that after receiving case-based learning, the mean score of critical thinking skills in nursing students was significantly higher than before that case-based learning (p-value .05). The level of satisfaction of nursing students with case-based learning in all aspects was the highest (mean=4.72, S.D.=0.24). Case-based learning can improve the critical thinking skills of nursing students. Therefore, this teaching approach should be utilized also in other courses to improve the critical thinking skills of nursing students continuously.