AI-Supported Gamified Training for Sharps Injury Prevention in Nurses

The Effect of An Artifıcial Intelligence-Supported Gamifıed Training Program on Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward The Prevention of Sharps Injuries

This study aims to evaluate the effect of a Health Belief Model (HBM)-based, artificial intelligence (AI)-supported gamified training program on nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward the prevention of sharps injuries. Sharps injuries remain a significant occupational risk for healthcare workers, particularly nurses, despite existing standard precautions.

The study will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the validity and reliability of the Sharps Injury Prediction Scale will be tested in a nurse population. In the second phase, a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design will be used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.

The study will be carried out in two hospitals from the same healthcare group located in different cities to prevent interaction between groups. A total of 36 nurses will be included, with 18 participants in the intervention group and 18 in the control group.

The intervention group will receive a structured, HBM-based training program consisting of seven sessions incorporating AI-supported content, gamified scenarios, interactive materials, and feedback mechanisms to enhance engagement and promote behavior change. The control group will receive routine institutional training on sharps injury prevention.

Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and two months later. Outcome measures include nurses' knowledge, attitudes toward safe sharps use, and sharps injury risk perception.

It is expected that the AI-supported gamified training program will significantly improve knowledge, attitudes, and risk awareness compared to routine training. The findings may support the integration of innovative, theory-based educational interventions into institutional training programs to enhance occupational safety.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Occupational Exposure; Needlestick Injuries; Sharps Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Experimental: Intervention Group; Behavioral: control group

Detailed Description

Sharps injuries are among the most common occupational hazards for healthcare workers, particularly nurses, due to their frequent exposure to invasive procedures and contact with blood and body fluids. These injuries are associated with the risk of transmission of serious infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Despite the implementation of standard precautions and institutional training programs, the incidence of sharps injuries remains a significant concern, highlighting the need for more effective and behavior-focused educational interventions.

Traditional training methods are often limited in their ability to promote sustained behavioral change. In this context, theory-based and technology-supported approaches may provide more effective solutions. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is widely used to explain and predict health-related behaviors by focusing on individuals' perceptions of risk, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. Integrating HBM into educational interventions may enhance the effectiveness of training programs aimed at improving safe practices.

In addition, recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and gamification have introduced innovative opportunities in health education. AI-supported systems can provide personalized learning experiences, while gamification techniques, such as interactive scenarios, feedback, and rewards, can increase motivation, engagement, and knowledge retention. These approaches may be particularly beneficial in nursing education, where active participation and behavioral reinforcement are essential.

This study will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the validity and reliability of the Sharps Injury Prediction Scale will be evaluated in a nurse population. In the second phase, a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design will be used to assess the effectiveness of an HBM-based, AI-supported gamified training program.

The study will be carried out in two hospitals within the same healthcare group located in different cities to minimize interaction between groups. A total of 36 nurses will be included. The intervention group will receive a structured training program consisting of seven sessions designed based on HBM constructs, incorporating AI-supported educational materials, gamified learning tools, and interactive components. The control group will receive routine institutional training.

Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and two months after the intervention. Outcome measures will include knowledge levels, attitudes toward safe use of sharps, and risk perception related to sharps injuries.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of innovative, theory-based educational strategies and support the integration of AI-supported and gamified training approaches into healthcare institutions to enhance occupational safety among nurses.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: İsmail Kuşoğlu, PhD. Student; Phone Number: +905062172248; Email: 22310206@mail.baskent.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Registered nurses working in the participating hospitals
• Working in the institution for at least 2 months (Phase 1) or newly employed within the last 1 month (Phase 2)
• Willing to participate in the study
• Able to use smartphone-based technologies
• Providing written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having received prior training based on the Health Belief Model for sharps injury prevention
• Previous professional nursing experience before current employment (for newly recruited nurses in Phase 2)
• Being on leave during the data collection period
• Failure to attend training sessions (intervention group)
• Incomplete data collection forms
• Withdrawal from the study at any stage

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group; Nurses in the intervention group will receive a Health Belief Model-based, AI-supported gamified training program designed to improve knowledge and attitudes toward sharps injury prevention.	Behavioral: Experimental: Intervention Group; A structured training program consisting of seven sessions, incorporating artificial intelligence-supported educational content, gamified scenarios, interactive videos, and digital feedback mechanisms to enhance learning and promote behavior change.
Active Comparator: Control Group; Standard training provided by the institution, including lectures and question-answer sessions on sharps injury prevention.	Behavioral: control group; Standard training provided by the institution, including lectures and question-answer sessions on sharps injury prevention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Nurses' knowledge level regarding sharps injury prevention	Knowledge level will be assessed using a structured knowledge questionnaire consisting of 25 items developed based on the literature. Higher scores indicate greater knowledge regarding sharps injury prevention.	Baseline (pretest), immediately after the intervention (posttest), and 2 months after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Attitudes toward safe use of sharps	Attitudes will be measured using the "Attitude Scale for Safe Use of Sharps Medical Instruments," a validated Likert-type scale. Higher scores indicate more positive attitudes toward safe practices.	Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention
Sharps injury risk perception and prediction score	Risk perception and prediction will be assessed using the adapted Sharps Injury Prediction Scale based on the Health Belief Model. Higher scores reflect increased perceived severity, benefits, and awareness of preventive behaviors.	Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Baskent University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ziyafet Uğurlu, Professor, Baskent University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 26, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 26, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 1, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 26, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Nursing education; Sharps injuries
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Wounds, Penetrating; Wounds, Stab; Needlestick Injuries; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Research Design; Methods; Control Groups
• Other Study ID Numbers: 18.03.26- 26/111

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to ethical and privacy considerations. The study involves human participants, and sharing individual-level data may pose a risk to confidentiality despite anonymization. Data will be used solely for research purposes in accordance with ethical approval and institutional regulations.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No