The effect of critical thinking education on nursing students' problem-solving skills

Contemp Nurse. 2017 Jun;53(3):313-321. doi: 10.1080/10376178.2017.1339567. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

Abstract

The aim of the study: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of critical thinking education on nursing students' problem-solving skills.

Materials and method: This study was conducted with 93 nursing students, 49 in the control group and 44 in the education group. The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory and the Problem-solving Inventory were administered to them before and after 12 weeks of critical thinking education.

Results: The education group's mean critical thinking score was 253.61 on the pretest and 268.72 on the posttest. This increase was statistically significant (p < .001). The posttest mean score of the control group fell to 258.18 on the posttest after a pretest mean score of 260.79, and this difference was statistically significant (p < .001). According to the posttest results, the problem-solving skills of education group increased significantly (p < .001), while the control group's score fell significantly (p < .001).

Conclusion: This study determined that critical thinking education improves problem-solving skills.

Keywords: critical thinking; education; nursing students; problem-solving.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Education, Nursing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Problem Solving*
  • Students, Nursing / psychology*
  • Thinking*