Gamification in nursing literature: an integrative review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Instructional Design
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Gamification is increasingly adopted as an instructional strategy in nursing education.
• Its application in nursing literature requires a comprehensive review to understand current trends and future directions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an integrative review of gamification in nursing literature.
• To identify explored aspects of gamification and areas needing further investigation.

Main Methods:

• An integrative review framework by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) guided the study.
• Seventeen nursing articles on gamification were systematically reviewed.
• A quality appraisal tool by Hawker et al. (2002) was utilized for article evaluation.

Main Results:

• Six emergent themes were identified: construct conceptualization, engagement, satisfaction, knowledge retention, knowledge translation, motivation, role of technology, and gamification elements.
• The review synthesized findings on how gamification is conceptualized and applied in nursing contexts.
• Key themes highlight the interplay between gamification, learner engagement, and knowledge acquisition.

Conclusions:

• Gamification is a topic of significant interest within the nursing profession.
• Further research is recommended to clarify the relationships between gamification and identified themes, particularly regarding its effectiveness.
• The findings underscore the need for more empirical evidence to support the integration of gamification in nursing education.