Name
Enhancing Prelicensure Healthcare Students' Confidence in Managing Patient Aggression through Interprofessional Simulation
Authors
Julie Kurkowski, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Date & Time
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 10:30 AM - 10:44 AM
Presentation Category
Designing Holistic Programs: Growth-Oriented Assessment, Feedback, and Learner Development
Description
Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is a persistent challenge in healthcare, yet prelicensure healthcare students often receive limited preparation for managing aggressive patient behaviors. Interprofessional education (IPE) through simulation may improve learner confidence and collaborative responses. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of an interprofessional high-fidelity simulation in improving prelicensure healthcare students' confidence in managing patient aggression. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study included nursing, physician assistant, and respiratory therapy students. Eighty-three students participated, with 67 completing both pre- and post-intervention assessments. The simulation included structured prebriefing, a workplace violence scenario, and facilitated debriefing. Confidence was measured using the validated Clinician Confidence in Coping with Patient Aggression (CCCPA) instrument. Results: Confidence improved significantly following the simulation, with mean CCCPA scores increasing from 5.75 to 6.58. Significant improvements were observed across all domains (p < .001). Multiple regression analysis found that post-simulation confidence was strongly associated with perceived preparedness through training and confidence in managing both psychological and physical aggression. Conclusions: An interprofessional high-fidelity simulation significantly improved prelicensure healthcare students' confidence in managing aggressive patient behaviors. Simulation-based IPE may better prepare learners to respond to workplace violence by strengthening communication, teamwork, and clinical readiness before entering practice.