Reducing Public Speaking Anxiety and Enhancing Communication through experiential learning among Nursing Students, SGT University, Gurugram

Abstract

Public speaking is an important skill for undergraduate students to learn and practice as they progress through their education and careers around the world. Public speaking anxiety can significantly impact nursing students in various ways, affecting their academic performance, professional development, and overall well-being. The objective was to give students the necessary skills required to make an effective presentation as well as to provide them with a chance to practice those skills. Sixty participants (30 in control group and 30 in experimental group) were selected using convenient sampling technique. The data was collected using The Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA; McCroskey, 1970). The findings revealed that there was significant improvement in communication skills which was evident from the paired T-test that showed a significant difference between the pretest and posttest PSA scores in the experimental group (t (29) = 5.948, p < 0.001), indicating that there was a significant change in PSA scores after the intervention. The paired T-test results show a non-significant difference between the pretest and post test PSA scores in the control group (t (29) = 1.751, p = 0.09), indicating that there was no significant change in PSA scores after the intervention. The research addressed a global issue professional often struggle with anxiety and poor speaking skills. By providing students with essential knowledge and specific techniques the study helped them to deliver effective presentations.