Effectiveness of Digital Game-Based Learning in Teaching Surgical Site Infection Prevention to Nursing Students (PreSSI-DGBL)

February 19, 2026 updated by: hatice akaltun

Effectiveness of Digital Game-Based Learning for Teaching Surgical Site Infection Prevention Interventions: A Mixed-Methods Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of digital game-based learning in teaching evidence-based surgical site infection prevention interventions to second-year nursing students. Using a mixed-methods randomized controlled design, students will be assigned to either a digital game-based learning group or a traditional theoretical education group.

Quantitative outcomes will assess changes in students' knowledge levels and cognitive load across three measurement points (baseline, 4-week post-intervention, and 8-week follow-up). In addition, qualitative data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with students in the intervention group to explore their learning experiences and perceptions of the digital learning approach.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based educational strategies in nursing education, particularly in the teaching of surgical site infection prevention.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This mixed-methods randomized controlled trial is designed to compare the effectiveness of digital game-based learning with traditional theoretical education in teaching surgical site infection prevention interventions to second-year nursing students.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving digital game-based learning or a control group receiving instructor-led theoretical education based on current guidelines. Quantitative data will be collected using a three-time-point measurement design, including baseline assessment, a post-intervention assessment at the 4th week, and a follow-up assessment at the 8th week to evaluate knowledge retention and cognitive load associated with the learning process.

To complement the quantitative findings, a qualitative component will be conducted with students from the digital game-based learning group. Semi-structured interviews will be used to explore students' experiences, perceived benefits, and challenges related to the digital learning intervention. Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis.

By integrating quantitative and qualitative data, this study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of digital game-based learning as an innovative educational approach for teaching surgical site infection prevention in nursing education.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

88

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Undergraduate nursing students Students who voluntarily agree to participate and provide written informed consent Students who have not previously received formal education on surgical site infection prevention Students who are able to participate in the digital game-based learning intervention and outcome assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Students who have previously received advanced or certified training on surgical site infection prevention Students who fail to complete any of the assessment time points (pre-test, post-test, or retention test) Students who do not complete the digital game-based learning intervention

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Digital Game-Based Learning Group
Participants in this arm will receive a digital game-based learning intervention designed to teach evidence-based surgical site infection prevention interventions. The digital game includes interactive scenarios and learning tasks aligned with current guidelines. Participants will engage with the digital game as part of their educational activities during the study period.
Behavioral: Digital Game-Based Learning
The intervention consists of a digital game-based learning application developed to support the teaching of evidence-based surgical site infection prevention interventions. The digital game includes interactive learning activities designed to enhance engagement and reinforce key prevention principles in nursing education.
Other Names:
  • SSI Prevention Digital Game
Active Comparator: Traditional Theoretical Education Group
Participants in this arm will receive traditional instructor-led theoretical education on surgical site infection prevention based on current evidence-based guidelines. The education will be delivered using conventional teaching methods routinely applied in nursing education.
Behavioral: Traditional Theoretical Education
The intervention consists of traditional instructor-led theoretical education on surgical site infection prevention delivered using standard teaching methods routinely applied in undergraduate nursing education.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Knowledge of Surgical Site Infection Prevention
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test), 4 weeks, and 8 weeks
This outcome measure assesses participants' knowledge of evidence-based surgical site infection prevention practices using a study-specific multiple-choice knowledge test consisting of 20 items (score range: 0-100), with higher scores indicating greater knowledge. Knowledge assessments will be conducted at three time points: baseline (pre-test), post-intervention at 4 weeks, and follow-up (knowledge retention test) at 8 weeks.
Baseline (pre-test), 4 weeks, and 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cognitive Load
Time Frame: 4 weeks, and 8 weeks
This outcome measure will assess participants' perceived cognitive load during the learning process using the Paas Cognitive Load Scale. The scale consists of a single-item, 9-point rating scale that measures the mental effort invested during learning (1 = very, very low mental effort; 9 = very, very high mental effort). Cognitive load assessments will be conducted at 4 weeks and at the 8-week follow-up.
4 weeks, and 8 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Digital Game-Based Learning Experiences (Qualitative Interviews)
Time Frame: After completion of the 8-week quantitative follow-up assessments
This outcome explores nursing students' experiences, perceptions, and views regarding the digital game-based learning intervention. Qualitative data will be collected through semi-structured individual interviews conducted with a purposive subsample of participants after completion of the 8-week quantitative follow-up assessments and analyzed using thematic analysis.
After completion of the 8-week quantitative follow-up assessments

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

hatice akaltun

Collaborators

Yuzuncu Yil University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 16, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 19, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • VYYU-SBF-HAKALTUN-003

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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