The effect of education provided with the escape room game on nursing students' learning of parenteral drug administration

Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the effect of education provided to first-year nursing students with the escape room game on their learning of parenteral drug administration. Background: The use of escape room games in education supports formal education in providing students with professional knowledge and skills. Design: A randomized controlled study design was used in this study. Method: The current study was conducted with 72 first-year nursing students. Data were collected with the Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire (DCQ), Parenteral Drug Administration Information Test (PDAIT), Parenteral Drug Administration Sub-Checklists (PDASC) and Game Evaluation Form (GEF) between May and June 2022. The initial knowledge and skills of all students participating in the study were measured after completing the parenteral drug administration theoretical course and laboratory skills course. Students were assigned to the intervention (n=36) and control (n=36) groups by the stratified block randomization method according to their initial knowledge and skill measurements. Unlike the control group, the intervention group played the escape room game once in groups of four. The control group was allowed to work freely in the laboratory during this period. The final knowledge and skills of the intervention and control groups were measured immediately after the intervention. Students' skills were measured with an objective structured clinical examination. Results: It was determined that the post-test knowledge level of the students in the intervention group and their post-test skill mean scores for drug withdrawal from an ampoule, subcutaneous injection administration, intradermal injection administration and intravenous push drug administration were higher than those of the students in the control group (p<0.05). Additionally, Intervention group students evaluated the escape room game positively. Conclusion: This study concluded that the escape room game supported formal education and could be used in teaching parenteral drug administration.