Education With Hybrid Simulation Method in Patients Administering Subcutaneous Biological Drugs

A poor self-injection experience can lead to undesirable treatment outcomes. However, increasing morbidity and mortality rates are closely related to non-adherence to treatment. Undesirable results due to non-compliance with treatment lead to more visits to emergency services, prolongation of inpatient treatments and increased surgical interventions, thus increasing the workload and costs of health services. In addition, patients who cannot receive repeated and effective training on subcutaneous injection application cause them to experience anxiety about subcutaneous drug administration on their own, and often come to health units only for subcutaneous injection, due to the limited ability to administer. This situation can both negatively affect the daily life activities and self-efficacy perceptions of the patients and increase the workload and cost in health services.

Hybrid Simulation; It is also defined as "patient-centered simulation". In this method; Simulated/standardized patient method is used together with auxiliary tools. Wearable simulation tools are used in this simulation type. When the literature is examined, it is seen that various training methods for self-administration skills are used in patients followed in the rheumatology outpatient clinic, but their effectiveness is controversial. In addition, no study has been found to evaluate the effectiveness of a hybrid simulation-based training on the improvement of application skills and reduction of anxiety regarding subcutaneous injection of biologic drugs, for which adherence to treatment is vital. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of training given by simulation method on patients who administer subcutaneous biologic drugs on their application skills and anxiety level. It is thought that these patients, who are trained with the hybrid simulation method, will decrease their negative experiences of subcutaneous biologic drug administration by repetitive applications and incorrect drug administration due to misunderstandings, their injection administration skills will improve, and their anxiety about injection will decrease.

Purpose and Design of the Research

This study was planned in a pre-test-post-test randomized controlled design in order to evaluate the effect of the training given by the hybrid simulation method to the patients who administered subcutaneous biologic drugs on the application skill and anxiety level.

Inclusion criteria

• Being between the ages of 18-50,
• Residing in Istanbul,
• Their family/relatives are not using medication in subcutaneous injection form,
• Receiving injection training for the first time,
• First time injection application,
• Using biological medication for the first time,
• Using subcutaneous biological medication for the first time,
• The requested subcutaneous biological drug must be in pen form,
• The drug administration dose should be once every 2 weeks (1/14),
• Being open to communication and cooperation,
• No experience of injecting any living creature (human or animal),
• There is no cognitive, perceptual, or physical disability that would hinder the ability to administer self-injection,
• Volunteering to participate in the research.

Exclusion criteria

• Leaving the study at any stage of the research process,
• Not participating in the training and evaluations included in the research,
• Having any local or systemic infectious disease at any stage of the research process.