The effect of competency-based educational application on the knowledge and skill of working with a ventilator in nursing students: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Mechanical ventilation is crucial for reducing mortality, hospital stay duration, and treatment costs in intensive care units. However, nursing students often receive insufficient training in ventilator management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a competency-based educational application on nursing students’ knowledge and practical skills in ventilator operation. This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2023 on 72 fourth-semester undergraduate nursing students in Yazd, Iran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned into intervention ( n = 36, app-based training) and control ( n = 36, lecture-based training) groups. The intervention group used a competency-based Android application over 30 days, progressing through structured modules and a final exam. The primary outcomes were knowledge and practical skills related to ventilator use, assessed using a validated 20-item multiple-choice questionnaire and an OSCE checklist. Secondary outcomes included ventilator setup time and students’ satisfaction with the app. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v22, employing independent and paired t -tests, and Chi-square tests at a significance level of P < 0.05. Post-test knowledge scores (App: 13.91 ± 2.62; Lecture: 12.77 ± 2.71; P = 0.001), OSCE scores (App: 16.13 ± 1.85; Lecture: 14.54 ± 1.94; P = 0.001), and ventilator setup time (App: 189.43 ± 26.90 s; Lecture: 208.57 ± 30.04 s; P = 0.001) all significantly favored the app group. The mean satisfaction score with the application was 7.10 ± 1.20 out of 9. The competency-based educational application significantly enhanced nursing students’ knowledge and skills in ventilator use compared to traditional methods. This approach offers a practical and effective training strategy for improving ventilator competency in nursing education.