Serious game intervention for changing perceptions of nursing and midwifery among adolescent school children

Aim: This study aims to test a serious game intervention about nursing and midwifery perceptions among adolescent school children
Background: Nursing and midwifery recruitment faces persistent challenges due to entrenched gender stereotypes and role ambiguity. Consequently, innovative strategies are required to reshape perceptions and stimulate career exploration among adolescents.
Design: Using a pre/post-test design, 137 post-primary students aged sixteen or seventeen from the United Kingdom were involved in this study.
Methods: Data collection took place between November 2022 and April 2023 across three post-primary schools. Participants interacted with a digital serious game aimed at dispelling misconceptions and enhancing understanding of nursing and midwifery. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, including an adapted version of the Nursing as a Career Choice Questionnaire, were administered. Statistical analyses comprised descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and independent groups t-tests.
Results: The serious game intervention led to statistically significant improvements in students' perceptions across various domains. On average, participants exhibited higher mean post-test scores (M = 139.57, SD = 15.10) compared to pre-test scores (M = 131.06, SD = 14.73). Notably, improvements were most prominent in self-efficacy (p < .001), job prospects (p < .001), and social influences (p < .001). Female participants consistently demonstrated higher perceptions than males in both pre- and post-tests, with students from all-girls schools consistently outperforming those from all-boys and mixed-gender schools.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that a serious game focused on nursing and midwifery can positively alter perceptions of self-efficacy and job prospects among adolescents. This indicates the potential of serious game interventions to influence career choices positively in this demographic.