The Effects of a Web-Based Simulation Training for Communication with Individuals at High Risk of Suicide on Nursing Students’ Communication Self-Efficacy, Interpersonal Competence, and Communication Competence

This study aimed to develop a web-based simulation training for communication with individuals at high risk of suicide and to verify its effectiveness among nursing students. The study employed a quasi-experimental design using a nonequivalent control group pretest–posttest approach. The experimental group (n = 24) ) participated in an eight-week web-based communication simulation training (October 21–December 13, 2024), whereas the control group (n = 24) received conventional lecture-based instruction. The pretest was administered on October 18, 2024, and the posttest on December 16, 2024. The experimental group showed a significant increase in communication self-efficacy (t=3.18, p=.001) and communication competency (t=2.89, p=.001) compared to the control group, whereas no significant effect was found for interpersonal competence (t=–1.96, p=.057). These findings suggest that incorporating this program as a supplementary component in nursing education curricula can strengthen students’ core competencies and enhancing interpersonal competence may require extending the program intervention duration or adopting repetitive and in-depth interventions.