Nurse-Led Simulation-Based Prosocial Skills Training in Individuals With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that may affect interpersonal relationships, social functioning, and participation in community life. Individuals with schizophrenia may experience difficulties in social interactions and internalized stigma, which can negatively influence their psychosocial well-being and recovery. Developing prosocial skills, including empathy, helping, sharing, communication, and cooperation, may support interpersonal relationships and social participation. Simulation-based training provides an experiential learning environment in which individuals can practice social interaction skills through structured scenarios, behavioral rehearsal, and feedback. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of nurse-led Simulation-Based Prosocial Skills Training on prosocial attitudes and internalized stigma among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. This randomized controlled trial included 50 individuals with schizophrenia receiving outpatient psychiatric care at a university hospital in Türkiye. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=25) or a control group (n=25). The intervention group received six sessions of nurse-led Simulation-Based Prosocial Skills Training, each lasting approximately 55 minutes, in addition to routine treatment and follow-up care. The control group continued to receive routine care. The intervention aimed to improve prosocial attitudes and reduce internalized stigma through structured simulation activities and opportunities to practice prosocial behaviors. Prosocial attitudes and internalized stigma were evaluated before and after the intervention using the Prosocialness Scale for Adults and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale. The findings may contribute to the development of nurse-led psychosocial rehabilitation interventions for individuals with schizophrenia.