The relationship between social problem-solving and self-regulation abilities according to clinical practice experience in nursing students

This study was to investigate the social problem solving ability and self-regulation ability in nursing students according to clinical experience.

A self-report questionnaire or face to face interviews were used to collect data from 156 nursing students. In order to measure the social problem-solving ability it used a measuring tool D'zurilla and Nezu had developed. For an assessment tool of the self-regulation ability it used a measuring tool Volition Composite Index that Kuhl and Futhrmann had developed. The statistical method used for data analysis was SPSS windows 21.0 program.

The main research findings were as follows. Social problem-solving ability of subjects was average 3.15±.33 points, and self-regulation ability was average 2.48±.29 points. Social problem solving ability was higher in the students with clinical practice experiences (3.26±.33) than those with no experiences (3.15±.27), and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.12, p=.036). The group of the students with clinical practice experiences showed higher scores in the sub-factors of Negative Problem Orientation (3.17±.70), Rational Problem Solving Style (3.52±.47), Impulsivity-Carelessness Style (2.91±.59), and Avoidance Style (2.91±.70), but there were no statistically significant results. The relation between social problem-solving and self-regulation abilities was a significant degree of correlation(r=.370, p<.001).

As a result of the research, clinical practice experience is related to social problem-solving and self-regulation ability. This study could help curriculum developments to improve clinical performance ability of students.