Investigating the Effect of Online Gamification on Electrocardiogram Interpretation and Self-Directed Learning in Nursing Students.

Introduction: Knowing and interpreting the Electrocardiogram correctly and taking care based on it is one of the most important ways to save the patient's life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of online gamification on the ability to interpret Electrocardiograms and Self-Directed Learning in nursing students. Methods: The present study was carried out quasi-experimentally on 44 nursing students (22 participants for each group) in the fifth semester in Ilam city in 2023 using a convenience sampling method by four permutations balanced block randomization to control and intervention groups. During four sessions in four weeks, the participants in the intervention group received Electrocardiogram interpretation as training on the Storyline platform and playing games in the Socrative software. The control group received the same content in the form of education from the same lecturer. ECG Interpretation Learning Test, Self-Directed Learning, Mini-Mental Status Examination, and demographic questionnaires were filled out before the intervention (pre-test). Then, Electrocardiogram Interpretation Learning Test and Self-Directed Learning questionnaires were completed two weeks after the end of the intervention (post-test), and the data were analyzed in the standard error of 0.05 using Shapiro-Wilk, independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-square, and multiple linear regression tests in SPSS V.16. Results: The mean and standard deviation of the participants' age was 21.35 ± 1.02, and 59% of the samples were male. Before the intervention, no significant difference was observed between the two groups, but after the intervention, the mean and standard deviation of the ECG interpretation scores in the intervention group increased significantly (14.1±2.94) compared to the control group (8.8±1.36) (P=0.007). Also, Self-Directed Learning in the intervention group (168±10.42) compared to the control group (125±4.3) showed a statistically significant difference (P=0.003). Conclusion: Using online gamification as a new educational method in nursing students improves the ability to interpret Electrocardiograms and Self-Directed Learning. It is suggested that this method should be used to teach lessons that are more useful and important at the hospital.