The Development and Impact of a Respiratory Patient Care Mobile Application on Nursing Students.

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a virtual experiential application for respiratory patient care and evaluate its impact on nursing students' knowledge, self-efficacy, clinical practice anxiety, and performance confidence. This application with gamification elements was developed following a structured approach encompassing assessment, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The experimental group consisted of 21 third-year university students who engaged with the application multiple times a day for 1 week; the control group, comprising 21 students, received traditional prelearning. Data were collected 1 week before and immediately before the clinical practice commencement, from March 7 to 24, 2023, using an online survey. Nursing knowledge, self-efficacy, clinical practice anxiety, and performance confidence were evaluated. Significant improvements were observed in the experimental group's knowledge of respiratory patient care, self-efficacy, clinical practice anxiety, and performance confidence. The application proved to be an effective learning resource and assisted students in implementing the nursing process to enhance patient conditions; it highlighted nursing educators' necessity in developing and evaluating educational content. The developed application was effective in enhancing student nurses' competence and confidence, affecting nursing education and patient care.