Enhancing Learning Through Role-Play in a Low-Fidelity Disaster Simulation

Authors

Susan S. Braithwaite, Western Carolina UniversityFollow
Susan J. Barcinas, North Carolina State University at RaleighFollow
Colleen A. Hayes, Western Carolina University- retiredFollow

ORCID (Optional)

Braithwaite https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3392-300X

Barcinas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8921-3840

Publication Date

6-23-2025

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: This report shares a best practice approach to low-fidelity simulation as a pedagogical method in disaster triage training for undergraduate nursing students.

Methods: This study utilized multi-year quantitative data such as student age, gender, GPA, prior simulation experience, and self-reported confidence in the START Triage application. It also utilized a secondary qualitative analysis of the debriefing process.

Results: Students who participated in a simulation event playing the role of a disaster victim scored significantly higher on subsequent performance as TRIAGE practitioners than students without roleplay experience. Perhaps even more compelling, these learning outcomes were demonstrated 18 months after the role-play experience.

Conclusion: Planned, coordinated low-fidelity simulation learning experiences are beneficial in nursing student instruction. This report proposes a cost-effective teaching strategy that utilizes low-fidelity simulation by incorporating role-play to enhance student learning.

KEYWORDS: simulation learning, triage, disaster response, health professions, experiential learning

Key Messages and Terms

• Students who experience triage as a simulated patient, perform exponentially better on subsequent experience as a practitioner.
• Patient simulation using students is an inexpensive, safe teaching methodology with impressive knowledge retention (18 months) results in keeping with experiential learning theory.

DOI

10.32873/unmc.dc.ihsej.0062

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Braithwaite, Susan S.; Barcinas, Susan J.; and Hayes, Colleen A. (2025) "Enhancing Learning Through Role-Play in a Low-Fidelity Disaster Simulation," Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal: Vol. 2 : Iss. 2 , Article 2.
Available at: 10.32873/unmc.dc.ihsej.0062