Effect of GenAI Patient Simulation on Clinical Preparedness and Clinical Competence in Nursing Students

NCT07811245 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: EA260547
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 44
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The transition from theoretical knowledge to clinical practice is a critical and challenging phase for nursing students. Limited opportunities for scenario-based learning before an clinical practicum impacts students' preparedness for practice and clinical competence. Consequently, this lack of preparation directly fuels stress, creating a a negative feedback loop where this stress inhibits cognitive processing and effective learning. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has emerged as a novel educational technology capable of providing interactive, flexible, and learner-centred simulation experiences. This waitlist randomised controlled trial aims to examine the effectiveness of incorporating the GenAI patient simulation in preparing the undergraduate nursing students for clinical practicum and enhancing the clinical competence compared to the current practice. Hypotheses of this study include:

1. 1.Participants using the GenAI patient simulation will report higher preparedness for the first acute clinical practicum (CP) and higher clinical competence scores compared to the usual practice group at all time points.
2. 2.The frequency of using the GenAI patient simulation will be positively correlated with preparedness for the CP and clinical competence.
3. 3.Participants using the GenAI patient simulation will report lower perceived stress before and during the CP compared to the usual practice group.
4. 4.The frequency of using of the GenAI patient simulation will negatively correlate with the levels of perceived stress before and during the CP.

Conditions

Undergraduate Nursing Students

Keywords

GenAI simulation; Readiness for clinical practicum; Clinical preparedness; Clinical competence; Perceived stress; Clinical practicum in acute settings

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Preparedness for Clinical Practicum

  Preparedness for clinical practicum will be measured using the Casey-Fink Readiness for Practice Survey, consists of 15 items in three domains: clinical problem solving (6 items), learning activities (5 items), and practice readiness (4 items). The minimum and maximum mean scores for each subscale are 1 and 4, respectively. A higher mean score indicates a higher level of agreement with each subscale.

  Baseline (T0), immediate after Phase 1 (T1), 2 weeks prior to the clinical practicum (T2), and within 1 week after completion of the clinical practicum (T3)

• Clinical Competence

  Measured by the Clinical Competency Questionnaire, consists of 47 items divided into four domains: nursing professional behaviour, general performance, core nursing skills and advanced nursing skills. Total scores range from 47 to 235, with a higher score indicating a higher level of competence.

  Baseline (T0), immediate after Phase 1 (T1), 2 weeks prior to the clinical practicum (T2), and within 1 week after completion of the clinical practicum (T3)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Perceived Stress

  Baseline (T0), immediate after Phase 1 (T1), 2 weeks prior to the clinical practicum (T2), and within 1 week after completion of the clinical practicum (T3)

Study Arms (2)

Arm 1

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: GenAI Patient Simulation Platform

Arm 2

OTHER

Waitlist control

Behavioral: GenAI Patient Simulation Platform

Interventions

GenAI Patient Simulation Platform BEHAVIORAL

The intervention is a two-phase GenAI patient simulation platform. Phase 1 - a 2-hour facilitated face-to-face simulation exercise session using the scenarios in the GenAI platform. Phase 2 - a self-initiated, wall-free GenAI patient simulation scenario package. Participants is allowed to access the platform and do the exercises before and during clinical practicum.

Arm 1

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Year 3 nursing students of a 5-year full-time Bachelor in Nursing programme,
• of any nationality including non-local and non-Chinese students, and
• able to read and understand English, and
• completed the introduction of clinical nursing practicum in year 2, and
• scheduled to undertake their first acute clinical practicum within the same academic year.

You may not qualify if:

• Year 3 nursing students of a 5-year full-time Bachelor in Nursing programme, who will not have their first acute clinical practicum within that academic year.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Central Study Contacts

Choi Fung Mabel LAM

CONTACT

39176694; lamcfm@hku.hk

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: Miss

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2026
• First Posted: September 10, 2026
• Study Start: September 28, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2028
• Last Updated: September 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09