EFFECTIVENESS OF PEER-ASSISTED LEARNING IN NURSING STUDENT KNOWLEDGE AND COMPLIANCE IN THE APPLICATION OF STANDARD PRECAUTIONS

Abstract

EFFECTIVENESS OF PEER-ASSISTED LEARNING IN NURSING STUDENT KNOWLEDGE AND COMPLIANCE IN THE APPLICATION OF STANDARD PRECAUTIONS Ria Desnita*, Defrima Oka Surya School of Health Sciences Mercubaktijaya Padang, Padang 25173, Indonesia *E-mail: riadesnita@mercubaktijaya.ac.id Abstract The learning process in higher nursing education develops student competences, such as applying standard precautions, in providing professional nursing care. To improve student knowledge and compliance related to standard precautions requires innovation from lecturers in providing appropriate learning methods. Peer-assisted learning (PAL) can enhance the active role of students and improve achievement. The PAL method involves senior students as peer teachers who help junior students. Using a questionnaire as an assessment instrument, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of PAL on knowledge and compliance in the application of standard precautions in student nurses. This study design was quasi experimental with pre and post assessment and a control group design approach. This research was conducted at the D Hospital in Padang, Indonesia, a hospital where students practice. This study was conducted in June–September 2017 with a sample size of 45. Data analysis using paired t-test showed that the average values of the level of knowledge and skills of students in the application of standard precautions before and after PAL methods differed significantly in the intervention group (p= 0.001). In conclusion, PAL can be applied in the learning process of nursing students to increase student achievement. Keywords: nursing student, peer-assisted learning, standard precaution