'Learning by doing', a model for improving the promotion of healthy lifestyles by student nurses

Abstract

Background 'Learning by doing' is a learning model based on performing actions and gaining experience. The 'nursing process' is a systematic, rational method for providing nursing care. During their university education, nursing students need to acquire the ability to promote healthy lifestyles. Objective To determine the effectiveness of a learning strategy based on learning by doing and grounded in the use of the nursing process, on the lifestyle of nursing students. Methods This quasi-experimental intervention (before-after), performed over 2011–2022, involved 2300 nursing students at a university nursing school in Spain. The risk factors for chronic diseases—being a smoker, being overweight, or having high blood pressure—to which each student was exposed were recorded. Those positive for at least one risk factor selected companion students as 'support nursing students' who became responsible for designing an individualised care plan to reduce the risk(s) faced. To ensure the correct use of the nursing process, teachers approved and monitored the implementation of the care plans. Whether risk-reduction objectives were met was determined three months later. Results The students with risk factors largely improved their lifestyles (targets for reducing smoking/body weight were met) with the help of their supporting peers. Conclusions The learning by doing method demonstrated its effectiveness, improving the lifestyle of at-risk students via the use of the nursing process.

Using the Journey to Health and Immunization (JTHI) Framework to Engage Stakeholders in Identifying Behavioral and Social Drivers of Routine Immunization in Nepal

“…In addition to orientation on behavioral science methods and tools, applied learning (learning by doing) was essential to the success of our approach. Others have identified "learning by doing" as an effective strategy to strengthen capacity and develop new skills [33][34][35]. Practical application of the JTHI framework by stakeholders was essential for them to understand its application and use and to advocate for the approach to be utilized in subsequent immunization programming (and programming outside of immunization).…”