Investigating puzzle games' impact on nursing students' death anxiety and life meaning
Official title: Mechanisms and Design Framework Study of Gamified Education in Professional Identity Formation for Medical Undergraduates
Run by China Medical University, China · NCT06991621 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing whether playing a puzzle game can help nursing students feel less anxious about death and find more meaning in life compared to those who learn from traditional manuals.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Months and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 70 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | China Medical University, China Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Shenyang, Liaoning) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 21, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 1, 2025 |
| Study ends | August 21, 2025 |
| Registry record updated | May 28, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06991621 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are third-year full-time undergraduate nursing students who have completed clinical observation training.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have participated in similar death education interventions within the past 3 months or those diagnosed with severe mental disorders may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study aims to explore the effects of a scenario-based puzzle educational game on death anxiety and the sense of meaning in life among nursing students. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which engages with the puzzle game, or a control group that receives traditional death education manuals. The study will assess the effectiveness of the game-based intervention by comparing outcomes between the two groups, focusing on changes in death anxiety and perceived meaning in life. Additionally, the study will gather insights into the participants' experiences and perceptions of the educational game.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide nursing students with innovative tools to manage death anxiety and enhance their sense of purpose.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of using puzzle games in this context may be novel, similar studies have shown that educational interventions can effectively reduce anxiety and improve coping mechanisms.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Third-year full-time undergraduate nursing students * Completed clinical observation training but not yet entered clinical internship phase * Aged ≥18 years * Provide informed consent and voluntarily participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Participated in similar death education interventions within the past 3 months * Diagnosed with severe mental or psychological disorders * Currently on a leave of absence (academic or personal)
Where it's running
-
School of Nursing, China Medical University
Shenyang, Liaoning, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Wenna Qian
- Email: wenna13314021865@163.com
- Phone: 13314021865
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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How thinking about death affects depression and anxiety
This test will see if a short writing exercise about your own death increases death anxiety and raises depression and anxiety symptoms in adults who can come to the lab in Cluj-Napoca.
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Mindfulness training to help nurses cope with death anxiety
This study is testing a mindfulness program to see if it can help nurses in high-stress jobs feel less anxious about death and better cope with loss.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.