Effects of TBL teaching on nursing students' knowledge, practical skills and core ability: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: This study aims to investigate the comparative effects of the team-based learning methodology against conventional teaching practices on the educational outcomes of nursing students. Background: The team-based learning instructional strategy represents a significant pedagogical innovation in nursing education. This approach initiates with foundational knowledge, uses predetermined questions for guidance and adopts both intra-group and inter-group dialogues as mechanisms of learning. It accentuates the creativity and pragmatism of students, thereby enhancing their communicative and collaborative competencies. Although this methodology has garnered recognition among nursing education practitioners in recent years, consensus on its pedagogical efficacy remains elusive. Design: The investigation was structured as a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: In August 2024, a comprehensive search was executed across several databases, including PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, OVID, Scoups and CNKI, to identify studies that satisfied predetermined criteria for inclusion and exclusion. The process entailed screening studies against the criteria, extracting pertinent data and assessing the quality of the studies prior to performing a meta-analysis. The review protocol of this study was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42024513238). Results: From an initial pool of 3191 articles, 29 were selected for meta-analysis following a meticulous screening process. Findings indicated that the team-based learning methodology significantly outperformed traditional teaching approaches in enhancing nursing students' final examination scores and practical skills. Moreover, it was observed to bolster self-directed learning and critical thinking capabilities among students. Nonetheless, the impact of team-based learning on improving problem-solving skills and communication skills warrants additional verification. Conclusion: The investigation concludes that the team-based learning approach is efficacious in enriching nursing students' theoretical and practical proficiencies, alongside promoting self-directed learning and critical thinking. However, given the constrained number and quality of the studies included, these findings necessitate corroboration through further high-caliber research.