Clinical trials

Introduction: Falls are the most frequently reported and preventable type of safety incident. Patient falls are the most common adverse events in hospitals. This situation impacts clinical outcomes and increases the financial burden on healthcare systems. Simulation is an important component of nursing education because it enhances patient care and ensures patient safety. Objective: To comparatively examine the effect of standard patient-based and web-based simulation methods, implemented in addition to the same theoretical education provided to nursing students, on students' knowledge levels regarding fall risk assessment and their fall risk assessment skills in clinical practice. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted during the spring semester of the 2025-2026 academic year with first-year students in the Department of Nursing at Aydın Adnan Menderes University as part of the Fundamentals of Nursing course. All participating students will complete theoretical classes in the classroom and practical sessions in the laboratory. The study using standard patient and web-based simulation applications will be conducted in the simulation laboratory of the Faculty of Nursing at Aydın Adnan Menderes University. Research data will be collected using the "Individual Information Form," the "Fall Knowledge Test for Preventing Patient Falls" prepared in accordance with the literature, and the "Fall Risk Assessment Skills Rubric." Research data will be collected over a 4-month period (February 9 - June 9, 2026). A written permission letter will be obtained from the institution to conduct the study. Participants will be provided with detailed information about the study, and both verbal and written consent will be obtained. For numerically measured data, a normal distribution analysis will be performed; based on the results of this analysis, "Pearson Chi-square" and "t-tests" will be used for variables showing a normal distribution. Findings: The research findings will be presented based on the analyses conducted. Conclusion: The results will be presented based on the research findings, and recommendations will be made accordingly.

The most fundamental principle of any healthcare service is "First, do no harm." No one should be harmed in healthcare services. Falls are the most frequently reported and preventable incident among all safety incidents in the hospital environment. However, falls are the most frequently reported incident among all safety incidents. Patient falls are the most common adverse events in hospitals. Patient falls in hospitals cause physiological and psychological harm to patients, affect the timeliness, effectiveness, and efficiency of care, and lead to increases in hospital costs and length of stay. Therefore, preventing falls, which have serious consequences, is of vital importance in terms of patient safety and healthcare quality. Nurses are a group that can sensitively identify and manage issues related to patient safety. Therefore, it is important to identify and reduce the underlying risk factors for falls in patients and to provide appropriate nursing interventions to prevent secondary injuries in patients who have fallen. Simulation is an important part of nursing education because it improves patient care and ensures patient safety. Simulation-based learning provides students with realistic clinical situations, allowing them to practice clinical skills in a safe environment. This enables students to develop their clinical skills, communication, decision-making, and self-efficacy in a risk-free, safe, and structured environment, representing a contemporary teaching approach. Teaching safe patient care during nursing students' education is one of the most fundamental elements of nursing education. Inadequate nursing knowledge and attitudes increase the risk of falls among patients receiving care. Students with insufficient clinical experience are at high risk of making undesirable errors in patient care. It is important to increase nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding falls during their education. The standard patient and web-based simulation application offers the closest experience to real clinical situations, providing students with significant potential to become aware of falls they may encounter in practice and prevent potential errors. The increasing importance given to patient safety due to the rising number of fall cases supports the necessity of this research. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of standard patient and web-based simulation methods on nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding falls.