The Effectiveness of Community Nurse Training Programs to Improve Nurses' Competency in Community Settings: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to synthesise the best available evidence on the training methods used in community nurse training programs and examine the effectiveness of such programs on enhancing competency (knowledge, skills and traits) among nurses or nurse practitioners working in community healthcare units. Methods: A search was conducted on 10 electronic databases to retrieve published and grey literature, specifically randomised controlled trials and clinical control trials. Two reviewers independently screened records, appraised article quality and extracted data from the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.4 software. Effect measures were expressed as standardised mean differences (SMD) and confidence intervals. Subgroup analyses were also performed based on delivery methods. Findings: Fourteen studies were included, 13 of which targeted knowledge as an outcome, 10 focused on nurses' skills and four examined nurses' traits. The analysis revealed that community nurse training programs improved nurses' knowledge via hybrid pedagogical (SMD = 0.15–2.21), online (SMD = 0.12–0.29) and onsite methods (SMD = −0.51 to 0.11) and enhanced their skills through hybrid (SMD = 0.90) and onsite training (SMD = 0.44). Furthermore, the programs improved nurses' traits in psychological empowerment, job productivity, professional development and affect dimensions. Conclusions: Nursing schools and healthcare institutions may employ diverse pedagogical approaches, including hybrid methods, to achieve positive outcomes for community nurse training programs to improve clinical competencies.