The Effects of Sequencing Strategies in Teaching Methods on Nursing Students' Knowledge Acquisition and Knowledge Retention.

Background : No existing research has determined which teaching sequence strategy is the best for nursing students. Purpose : To find out which sequence is most effective in knowledge acquisition and knowledge retention and to further verify knowledge acquisition between problem-based learning (PBL) and lecture-based learning (LBL). Methods : This was a quasi-experimental design with a comparison of two nursing student groups selected from students in their final program year who were invited to participate. Generalized estimating equation was used to compare Group I (LBL-PBL-clinical practicum) and Group II (PBL-LBL-clinical practicum) by using knowledge acquisition and knowledge retention as outcome variables. Findings : Fifty-six senior students joined this study. Group I was significantly better than Group II on both knowledge acquisition (β = 7.05, p = 0.04) and knowledge retention (β = 9.40, p = 0.03). Discussion : The sequence of LBL-PBL-clinical practicum or policy of allowing practicum and courses in the same semester might be the best strategy to enhance knowledge retention.