Unlocking excellence: improving nursing students' knowledge of pressure injury prevention through an escape room experience

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To determine if an escape room game approach, which has emerged as a novel and engaging education tool, is an effective method to improve nursing students' knowledge of pressure injury (PI) prevention and attitudes toward the care of patients with a PI. METHODS This study evaluated 33 university nursing students using a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design. Students completed five questionnaires before the escape room experience and again 1 month after. RESULTS After the intervention, the students' mean scores on their self-reported PI knowledge level, Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool 2.0, Pressure Injuries Prevention Knowledge Questionnaire, and Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument all significantly increased (Ps <.001). Further, the mean score on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was significantly lower postintervention (P <.001), indicating decreased anxiety. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that the escape room game approach is an effective method to improve nursing students' knowledge of PI prevention and attitudes toward the care of patients with PIs. This method also improved students' knowledge retention by promoting facilitated learning in solving complex cases. © Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.