The Effect of Forum Theater on Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Forensic Psychiatric Patients

Vollständiger Abstract

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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.