Abstract

Objective: This study aims to explore the application of the serious game (SG) teaching method in neurosurgery interns and evaluate its effect on improving clinical reasoning and reflection ability. Methods: A total of 60 interns from June 2023 to June 2024 were selected and randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. There were 30 students in each group. The study adopted a randomized controlled experimental design. The serious game teaching method was used in the experimental group, and the traditional teaching method was used in the control group. The changes in clinical reasoning and reflection ability of the two groups of nursing students were compared. Results: The results showed that the scores of neurosurgery nursing theory and skill internship assessment, clinical reasoning and reflection ability scores (SACRR self-rating scale), learning satisfaction, and self-confidence scores in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group    (P＜0.05 ). After the teaching, the students in the experimental group filled in the serious game feedback questionnaire. The scores of the game content's realism and relevance (4.55±0.42), the game's situation design rationality (4.50±0.45), the game's help in clinical decision-making (4.60±0.50), the game's promotion of self-reflection (4.40±0.52), and the overall learning effect evaluation (4.65±0.41) were very positive. The students' overall evaluation of the serious game was very positive, especially in terms of learning effect and help in clinical decision-making. Conclusion: The serious game teaching method has significant advantages in improving nursing students' clinical reasoning ability, reflection ability, clinical decision-making level, and self-confidence. Serious games simulate complex clinical situations and encourage nursing students to practice decision-making, operation, and reflection in a virtual environment, thereby enhancing their ability to cope with real clinical challenges. This study provides innovative teaching methods and a practical basis for the re-form of neurosurgical nursing education.