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Background: Digital escape room games have emerged as innovative pedagogical tools in nursing education, providing immersive and engaging learning experiences. Although their use has expanded to various topics, little is known about their impact in teaching the management of life-threatening emergencies such as hypovolemic shock.
Aim: To evaluate the effects of a digital escape room game on nursing students' knowledge, satisfaction, and perceptions of hypovolemic shock management.
Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. In the quantitative phase, a randomized controlled trial was conducted with 55 third-year nursing students assigned to an intervention group (digital escape room) or a control group (traditional lecture). Knowledge levels were assessed at three time points, and the GAMEX scale measured game experiences. In the qualitative phase, focus group interviews were conducted with 12 students from the intervention group to explore experiences in greater depth. Quantitative data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically.
Results: Quantitative findings revealed no statistically significant differences in knowledge scores between the groups over time. However, students in the intervention group reported high levels of enjoyment, motivation, and creative thinking. Qualitative results indicated that the digital escape room reinforced theoretical knowledge, promoted reflection on knowledge gaps, and enhanced critical thinking, problem-solving, and clinical decision-making. Students also emphasized that the game simulated the pressure of real clinical environments, enabling them to practice rapid responses in a safe, engaging context.
Conclusion: Although no significant improvements in knowledge scores were detected, the digital escape room offered substantial educational benefits by strengthening motivation, engagement, and higher-level competencies. It may serve as an innovative complementary strategy to traditional teaching in nursing education.
Full description
Study Rationale Traditional lecture-based methods may be limited in preparing nursing students for the complex and time-sensitive decision-making required in managing hypovolemic shock. Digital escape room games provide an immersive, interactive environment where learners collaborate to solve problems under time pressure, simulating aspects of real clinical practice. This innovative format has been applied in various areas of health education, but its impact on teaching emergency management skills such as hypovolemic shock remains underexplored. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital escape room game in enhancing knowledge, motivation, and higher-order cognitive competencies in nursing students.
Study Design An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was implemented, combining a randomized controlled trial with a qualitative follow-up phase. The quantitative component compared a digital escape room intervention with a traditional lecture, while the qualitative component explored students' perceptions and experiences in greater depth. This design was selected to capture both measurable outcomes and the underlying mechanisms by which the intervention influenced learning.
Participants Participants were third-year undergraduate nursing students enrolled in a medical-surgical nursing course. A total of 55 students consented to participate and were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (digital escape room) or the control group (lecture). A subsample of 12 students from the intervention arm participated in focus group interviews to provide qualitative insights.
Intervention Model
Experimental Group: Students participated in a digital escape room game specifically developed to teach hypovolemic shock management. The game required students to collaboratively identify clues, apply theoretical knowledge, and make time-pressured decisions to "escape" by stabilizing the patient scenario.
Control Group: Students received a traditional didactic lecture covering the same content on hypovolemic shock management.
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome: Knowledge of hypovolemic shock, assessed using a structured test administered at three time points (pretest, immediate posttest, and follow-up).
Secondary Outcomes: Learning experiences in the intervention group, assessed using the GAMEX scale, which measures enjoyment, motivation, creative thinking, and other dimensions of game-based learning.
Qualitative Outcomes: Perceptions of the digital escape room's impact on learning, teamwork, and clinical preparedness, explored through thematic analysis of focus group discussions.
Data Collection and Analysis Quantitative data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA to examine changes in knowledge scores over time between groups. GAMEX scores were summarized descriptively. Qualitative data from focus groups were transcribed and thematically analyzed to identify patterns related to perceived learning, challenges, and benefits of the intervention.
Key Findings No statistically significant differences in knowledge scores were observed between the digital escape room and lecture groups. However, students in the intervention group reported high levels of enjoyment, motivation, and creative engagement. Qualitative findings indicated that the digital escape room reinforced theoretical knowledge, revealed knowledge gaps, and fostered critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Students highlighted the game's ability to simulate clinical pressure in a safe, engaging environment.
Conclusion While the digital escape room did not yield significant gains in test-based knowledge, it provided substantial educational value by strengthening learner engagement, motivation, and the development of higher-level competencies. This suggests that digital escape rooms may serve as a valuable complement to traditional teaching strategies in nursing education, particularly in preparing students for the management of emergency clinical conditions such as hypovolemic shock.
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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov
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