Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Community-Based Forensic Nursing and Medico-Legal Responsibilities Among B.Sc. Nursing Students

Abstract

Introduction: The specialist field of forensic nursing combines nursing science with legal and forensic concepts. Identification, management, documentation, and reporting of medico-legal situations in community settings are the main objectives of community-based forensic nursing, which has become a significant field of practice. In order to guarantee both legal compliance and high-quality patient care, nursing students are expected to have sufficient knowledge of forensic nursing and medico-legal obligations. Nonetheless, research shows that nursing students frequently have insufficient understanding in this field. To increase their comprehension and proficiency, educational interventions are thus required.

Methodology: The effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme (STP) on B.Sc. Nursing students' understanding of community-based forensic nursing and medico-legal obligations was assessed using a pre-experimental one-group pre-test-post-test research design. A non-probability convenient sampling strategy was used to pick 100 B.Sc. nursing students from certain nursing institutes in Bihar for the study. Before and after the intervention, knowledge levels were measured using a 40-item structured knowledge questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results: According to the pre-test results, just 8% of pupils had adequate knowledge, 30% had fairly adequate knowledge, and 62% had inadequate knowledge. After completing the Structured Teaching Program, 24% of students showed moderately adequate knowledge and 76% showed adequate understanding. The average score on the pre-test was 17.24±4.62, while the average score on the post-test was 31.78±3.84. A statistically significant increase in knowledge following the intervention was revealed by the computed paired t-test value (t=26.41, p<0.001).

Conclusion: The B.Sc. Nursing students' understanding of community-based forensic nursing and medico-legal obligations improved thanks to the Structured Teaching Program. The results are in favor of including forensic nursing education into nursing programs in order to improve legal accountability and professional competence.