Does the Addition of Images to the Medication Dosage Calculation Exam Improve Metacognitive Components and...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Training
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Accurate medication dosage calculation is critical for patient safety in nursing practice.
• Effective instructional strategies are essential for nursing education to ensure competency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if including images of medications or syringes in exams impacts nursing students' performance.
• To assess the effect of embedded images on students' metacognitive judgments regarding ease of learning medication calculations.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 120 nursing students.
• Comparison of exam performance and perceived ease of learning between a group with images and a control group without images.
• Statistical analysis using t-tests, ANCOVA, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Students who took exams with images achieved significantly higher scores (P <.001).
• The image group reported a greater perceived ease of learning (P <.001).
• These benefits were more pronounced in early-semester students and persisted after controlling for native language.

Conclusions:

• Incorporating images into medication dosage calculation exams enhances student performance.
• Visual aids are associated with increased perceived ease of learning, potentially improving medication calculation mastery in nursing education.