Effect of Verbal De-Escalation-Based Simulation on Agitation Management, Perception of Aggression, and Impact of Aggression in Emergency Department Nurses

Agitation management knowledge will be assessed using the researcher-developed Agitation Management Knowledge Test. The test consists of 25 items with three response options: True, False, and Don't Know. Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge of agitation management and verbal de-escalation.

Functional perception of aggression will be assessed using the functional subscale of the Perception of Aggression Scale (POAS). The POAS consists of 29 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The functional subscale consists of 12 items. The mean subscale score is calculated by dividing the sum of the item scores by the number of items in the subscale and ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate a greater tendency to perceive aggression as functional, acceptable, and a healthy response.

Dysfunctional perception of aggression will be assessed using the dysfunctional subscale of the Perception of Aggression Scale (POAS). The POAS consists of 29 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The dysfunctional subscale consists of 17 items. The mean subscale score is calculated by dividing the sum of the item scores by the number of items in the subscale and ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate a greater tendency to perceive aggression as dysfunctional, unacceptable, and undesirable.

Impact of patient aggression will be assessed using the Impact of Patient Aggression on Carers Scale (IMPACS). The scale consists of 7 items and two subscales: Corruption of Relation Between Care Provider and Patient and Not Feeling Confident. Total scores range from 7 to 35, with higher scores indicating a greater negative impact of patient aggression.

Perceived simulation effectiveness will be assessed using the Modified Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET-M) in the intervention group. The scale consists of 19 items and four subscales: prebriefing, learning, confidence, and debriefing. Total scores range from 19 to 95, with higher scores indicating a more positive perception of the effectiveness of the simulation-based learning experience.

Participants' experiences with the verbal de-escalation-based simulation training will be examined through focus group interviews using researcher-developed semi-structured interview questions. Interview transcripts will be analyzed using content analysis, and the findings will be reported as qualitative themes. The interviews will address perceived changes in knowledge and skills, transfer of knowledge and skills to clinical practice, perceptions of and emotional responses to agitated patients, and maintenance of training effects in clinical practice.