NCT06991621

Brief Summary

Goal of this interventional study The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of a scenario-based puzzle educational game on death anxiety and meaning in life among nursing students. It aims to answer the following key questions: Can the scenario-based puzzle educational game enhance nursing students' sense of meaning in life? Can the scenario-based puzzle educational game reduce death anxiety in nursing students? What are nursing students' experiences and perceptions of this educational game? Study design Researchers will compare the intervention group (participating in the game) with a control group (receiving death education manuals) to evaluate the effectiveness of the game-based intervention. Participants will: Be recruited through campus posters Be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group and complete baseline questionnaires In the control group: Receive death education manuals twice weekly for 3 weeks In the intervention group: Participate in group sessions (5 students per group) to play the scenario-based puzzle game twice weekly for 3 weeks Complete follow-up questionnaires and participate in qualitative interviews regarding their experiences with manual-based education or the game intervention after the 3-week intervention period

Trial Health

57
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
70

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Apr 2025

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 21, 2025

Completed
22 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 13, 2025

Completed
15 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 28, 2025

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2025

Completed
20 days until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 21, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

May 28, 2025

Status Verified

May 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

3 months

First QC Date

May 13, 2025

Last Update Submit

May 18, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Death Anxiety

    A 15-item self-report scale developed by psychologist Templer (1967/1970) measuring death-related distress. Dimensions: Affective (Items 1,3,10,13,14), Stress/Pain (Items 4,5,6,9,11), Time Awareness (Items 8,12), Cognitive (Items 2,7,15) Scoring: Dichotomous (Yes/No) with 9 forward-scored and 6 reverse-scored items (Items 2,3,5,6,7,16\*). Total score range: 0-15 (higher = greater anxiety). Reliability: Test-retest reliability (3-week) = 0.83; KR-20 = 0.76 (original English version).

    Week 0, Week 3

  • Meaning in Life

    A 10-item scale (Steger et al.) assessing two dimensions: Presence of Meaning (5 items): Perceived life purpose Search for Meaning (5 items): Active pursuit of meaning Scoring: 7-point Likert (1="Strongly Disagree" to 7="Strongly Agree"). Higher scores indicate stronger meaning. Reliability: Cronbach's α = 0.878 (total), 0.850 (Presence), 0.907 (Search)

    Week 0, Week 3

Study Arms (2)

Gamified Education

EXPERIMENTAL

Scenario-based puzzle game in group sessions

Other: Puzzle game

Manual Education

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Standardized death education manual

Other: Manual Education

Interventions

Scenario-based puzzle game sessions (group format)

Gamified Education

Standardized death education manual distribution

Manual Education

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Months+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • 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

You may not qualify if:

  • 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)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

School of Nursing, China Medical University

Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Necrophobia

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
OTHER
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Doctoral Researcher, School of Nursing, China Medical University

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 13, 2025

First Posted

May 28, 2025

Study Start

April 21, 2025

Primary Completion

August 1, 2025

Study Completion

August 21, 2025

Last Updated

May 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations