Game-Based Psychological First Aid Training for Midwifery Students

June 22, 2026 updated by: YASEMİN AYDIN KARTAL, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

The Effect of Game-Based Learning-Based Psychological First Aid Training on the Self-Efficacy and Problem-Solving Levels of Midwifery Students

Purpose:

This study aims to evaluate the effects of an educational digital escape room game-based Psychological First Aid (PFA) training on the PFA self-efficacy and problem-solving levels of undergraduate midwifery students.

Methods:

The study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial with a pretest, posttest, and follow-up design at the Health Sciences University (SBU), Hamidiye Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery during the spring semester of the 2025-2026 academic year. Second-year midwifery students will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group using a stratified randomization method based on their Grade Point Average (GPA).

Both groups will receive a standardized theoretical PFA training program. In addition to this training, the intervention group will participate in an interactive digital escape room game developed on the Genially platform, consisting of short web-based scenarios under 20 minutes. The control group will receive only the standard theoretical education. Data will be collected at baseline (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 3), and during follow-up phases using the Psychological First Aid Self-Efficacy Scale and the Problem Solving Inventory to compare the behavioral and educational outcomes between the two groups.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Midwives play a critical role in providing psychosocial and emergency obstetric support during disasters, conflicts, and public health crises. However, healthcare professionals face high psychological risks, secondary trauma, and burnout during these periods. Enhancing their psychological preparedness, self-efficacy, and problem-solving skills is vital for maternal-child survival rates and healthcare quality. Traditional theoretical methods are increasingly being replaced by game-based learning (GBL) and gamification to improve clinical decision-making. This study utilizes an interactive, scenario-based digital escape room to bridge the gap between theoretical psychological first aid and active problem-solving skills.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

84

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 Contact Backup

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

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Volunteering to participate in the research.
  • Having internet access.
  • Having a smartphone.
  • Having taken the emergency care and first aid course.
  • Being an active 2nd-year student in the Midwifery Department of Hamidiye Faculty of Health Sciences, Health Sciences University.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Being a passive student in the 2nd year of the Midwifery Department at Hamidiye Faculty of Health Sciences, Health Sciences University.
  • Not participating in educational practices.

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group (Game-Based PFA Training)
Second-year midwifery students in this arm will receive both the standard theoretical training and the interactive digital escape room game.
Behavioral: Digital Escape Room Game via Genially
An interactive, scenario-based educational digital escape room game developed on the Genially platform. The content consists of clinical and psychological emergency midwifery scenarios tailored to last no longer than 20 minutes per session to prevent cognitive overload. It focuses on active problem-solving, triage, and applying PFA principles under stress.
Active Comparator: Control Group (Standard PFA Training)
Second-year midwifery students in this arm will receive only the standard theoretical training program during the study period. (Note: They will be cross-over given access to the digital game after all data collection is completed for ethical equity).
Other: Standardized Theoretical Psychological First Aid (PFA) Training
A structured classroom-based theoretical training module developed in accordance with international guidelines and expert opinions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Psychological First Aid Self-Efficacy Scale Score Immediately After the Intervention
Time Frame: Baseline (Day 1, prior to the start of the theoretical training) and immediately after the completion of the educational intervention phase (Week 2/Week 3 boundary, right after the last gaming/theoretical session).
The Psychological First Aid Self-Efficacy Scale is a 35-item self-report instrument used to evaluate the participants' perceived competence and preparedness in delivering acute psychological first aid during crises. All items are scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). There are no reverse-scored items. The total score is calculated by summing all responses, ranging from a minimum score of 35 to a maximum score of 175. Higher total scores indicate a superior level of self-efficacy and better psychological readiness in implementing psychological first aid interventions, while lower scores indicate lower self-efficacy.
Baseline (Day 1, prior to the start of the theoretical training) and immediately after the completion of the educational intervention phase (Week 2/Week 3 boundary, right after the last gaming/theoretical session).
Outcome Measure Title: Change from Baseline in Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) Score Immediately After the Intervention
Time Frame: Baseline (Day 1, prior to the start of the theoretical training) and immediately after the completion of the educational intervention phase (Week 2/Week 3 boundary, right after the last gaming/theoretical session).
The Problem Solving Inventory (PSI), originally developed by Heppner and Petersen, is a 32-item self-report instrument that assesses individuals' cognitive perceptions of their own problem-solving behaviors and coping strategies. Items are scored on a 6-point Likert scale. Total scores on the inventory range from a minimum of 32 to a maximum of 192. In terms of clinical and behavioral interpretation, the scoring is inversely aligned: lower total scores indicate that the student perceives themselves as highly competent, sufficient, and successful in problem-solving skills. Conversely, higher total scores reflect a lower perception of problem-solving confidence and perceived insufficiency in coping with challenges.
Baseline (Day 1, prior to the start of the theoretical training) and immediately after the completion of the educational intervention phase (Week 2/Week 3 boundary, right after the last gaming/theoretical session).

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

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 (Estimated)

June 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SBU-AYDINKARTAL-PFA

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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