The Effect of Forum Theater on Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Forensic Psychiatric Patients
Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1097/jfn.0000000000000624
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Forensic Nursing
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Attitudes, forensic psychiatric patients, forum theater, nursing, stigma
- Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Aim – To evaluate the impact of forum theater on nursing students’ attitudes towards forensic psychiatric patients. Methods – Using a quasi-experimental, single-group, pretest/posttest design, twenty-five nursing students enrolled during the 2025–2026 academic year participated. Data were collected using a personal information form and an attitude scale for health care professionals towards forensic psychiatric patients. As part of the intervention, a three-hour forum theater–based educational programme was implemented. Pretest and posttest scores were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results – After the forum theater intervention, a statistically significant increase was observed in participants’ total attitude scores (p < 0.001). While significant increases were found in the Social Distance and Dangerousness subscale scores (p < 0.05), no significant changes were observed in the Willingness to Provide Care and Trust subscales (p > 0.05). Discussion – Forum theater is an effective educational method for reducing stigmatising attitudes towards forensic psychiatric patients among nursing students, and for promoting more accepting attitudes. From a public health nursing perspective, such experiential and participatory educational approaches are considered to be a significant means of combatting stigma within community-based mental health services.