Semiha Asli BOZKURT, Fatma DURSUN ERGEZEN, Yael KOREN, Laura HAYMAN
Global Nursing Insights - 2026;13(1):112-125
Aim: To examine the use of simulation to teach social determinants of health (SDOH) to undergraduate nursing students. Material and Methods: This is a mixed-method systematic review. The Conceptual Model of Nursing and Population Health guided this review. Peer-reviewed articles were searched in the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, and ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Database. Results: Of 342 articles, six met the criteria. The selected studies used standardized patient simulation, manikin-based simulation, and escape room simulation, with participant numbers ranging from 16 to 570. Two articles used conceptual models to shape their research: Social Empathy and NLN/Jeffries Simulation Theory. The included articles used the following instruments and surveys: Attitudes Toward Poverty-Short Form, Beliefs Related to Poverty and Health, The Undergraduate Perceptions of Poverty Tracking Survey, post-simulation survey, and interview guide questions. Conclusion: This mixed-method systematic review found a lack of scenario diversity in teaching SDOH to nursing students. Randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies are needed to increase the evidence level for this SDOH method.
