Comparing the Effect of Triage Education in Lecture and Multimedia Software on Nurses Learning

Introduction: Triage is the basis of disaster management and teaching triage skills to the nurses is of high importance in disaster and calamity planning. This study aimed "to compare the effectiveness of two teaching methods of lecture and multimedia software on nurses learning". Methods: In a semi-experimental, two-group pretest-posttest study, ninety nurses of one of hospitals in Isfahan using random allocation method divided into two equal groups of education by lecture and by multimedia software in 2009. Learning of the nurses in cognitive and emotional areas was measured about triage using a researcher-made multiple choice test in three stages; before, after and recall stage after the intervention. Thereafter, the data were analyzed using independent t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance and SPSS 15 software. Results: Learning rate of the nurses about triage increased in two methods (p 0.05). Significant difference wasn't showed in mean total scores (cognitive and emotional areas) before the intervention in both groups (p>0.05), i.e. the two groups were homogeneous. But, at measurement of the second stage (posttest), mean total scores in the lecture group was higher than multimedia software group (p 0.05); however, mean scores of recall stage in the multimedia software group was higher than lecture group. Conclusion: The results indicated the effectiveness of both lecture method and multimedia software method; however considering to the characteristics of the virtual learning including comprehensive interest-based learning, cost-effective, efficacy, accessible, flexible, appropriate design, and comprehensiveness and extendable, this effective method is recommended.