Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Mechanical Ventilation Boot Camp Curriculum
Published on: March 12, 2018
The effect of the BREATHe paramedic - paramedic mobile game on nursing and paramedic students' competence development
Hanna-Mari Ylitalo1, Petri Roivainen2, Heli-Maria Kuivila1
1Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Background:
Mobile games are emerging as powerful tools for learning. There is a lack of understanding of their potential in nursing and paramedic competence development.
Aim:
The study aimed to test the effectiveness of the BREATHe Paramedic mobile game in enhancing paramedic competence among nursing and paramedic students.
Design:
A quasi-experimental study.
Participants:
Nursing and paramedic students (n = 36) from Finland.
Methods:
The study was conducted in the spring of 2024 to examine the impact of the BREATHe Paramedic mobile game on nursing and paramedic students' self-assessed paramedic competence and objective learning outcomes. To measure self-assessed competence, the Global Rating Scale for the Assessment of Paramedic Clinical Competence, using a Likert scale, was employed. Additionally, the study explored students' attitudes, satisfaction, and overall experiences with the game.
Results:
According to students' self-assessments, the BREATHe Paramedic mobile game significantly improved all measured areas (p < 0.05), including e.g. situational awareness, patient assessment and decision-making. Regarding objective data, statistically significant improvement was found in medication management competence (p = 0.024). Most of the students were satisfied with the game. The mobile game increased students' motivation to learn and improved their skills, but it also raised some challenges, such as technical implementation and getting feedback.
Conclusion:
The study showed that the BREATHe paramedic mobile game can promote paramedic competence development, as indicated by students' self-evaluations. Objective data supported the overall findings; however, it revealed a statistically significant difference only in medication management competence. The mobile game's feedback system should be improved, and further research is needed to understand how to maximise the benefits of mobile games in paramedic education and continuous learning in working life.
Related Concept Videos
01:05Breathing
01:20Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like...
01:22Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management