Abstract:

Introduction:
Health education is the process of transferring health information and skills training and new healthy lifestyles to individuals, families and communities. Health professionals have to update their knowledge in order to improve their health education activities in the population. This requires the exchange of innovative knowledge through different scientific events such as conferences in traditional or virtual format. However, nursing students are not aware of the different models of dissemination of research results, reducing the possibilities to learn about such events and the possibility to provide better care for society.
The main objective is to improve nursing students' knowledge and skills in research dissemination at scientific events. The specific objectives are the following:
(1) to simulate a virtual conference on health education with all its procedures and
(2) to motivate students to do research in their professional future.

Methods:
The teaching methodology used was a combination of goal-based scenario and reciprocal teaching among third-year nursing students. A simulation of a virtual nursing conference on health education has been carried out using a Learning Management System (Moodle). Previously, in groups of 2-4 students, they wrote a paper as authors on a research project on health education for specific health problems. Other students played the role of members of the Organising Committee or Scientific Committee, simulating the process of collecting and anonymously peer-reviewing the papers. Once the virtual conference was prepared, a 3-day event was set up, in which authors had to comment on other submitted papers and answer questions arising from their own papers.
A pre-test opinion questionnaire was distributed at the beginning of the activity and a similar post-test at the end of the activity, both including an identical knowledge test to assess their evolution. The students also subsequently completed the Attitudes Towards Research Questionnaire and a satisfaction questionnaire concerning the organisation of the virtual conference (1: Dissatisfied; 5: Very satisfied). Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software.

Results:
Only 10.4% (8) of nursing students had attended research dissemination events before and 16.9% (13) were aware of their characteristics. 69.2% (18) of the papers were accepted for publication in the virtual conference, divided into 6 topic areas of health education. In the comments sections of the papers, a total of 316 interventions were registered among the authors/attendees of the virtual event. After the event, scores on several questions of the research dissemination knowledge questionnaire increased significantly in the post-test. Students were very satisfied with the experience (4.15 +- 0.85 points), highlighting that 80.0% (53) would like to participate in conferences in their professional future.

Conclusions:
The simulation of a virtual conference provided nursing students with a better understanding of research dissemination. It was carried out within the established times and procedures, with a high level of satisfaction among the participants. Finally, most of the students announced that they would like to participate in virtual conferences in their professional future, evidencing the usefulness of these events to improve their care work in the population.

Keywords:

Simulation training, Virtual conference, Moodle, Health education, Nursing.