Effectiveness of escape room–based learning for patient safety education in nursing students

Abstract Background Ensuring patient safety is a cornerstone of nursing practice, and its foundation is established during nursing education. The study evaluates the effectiveness of escape room–based learning designed in accordance with the International Patient Safety Goals on nursing students’ self-efficacy about patient safety. Methods The study was conducted with senior nursing students from February to May 2024. Data were collected using the Student Information Form, Patient Safety Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and Satisfaction with Training Methods Scale. The escape room was structured in three phases—prebriefing, simulation, and debriefing—following INACSL standards. Clinical trial number: NCT07179367. Results The average age of the participants was 23.5, and 43.5% had previously completed an elective course on patient safety. Analyses revealed that participants spent the most time, averaging 2.59 min, in the room dedicated to information questions. The average self-efficacy score before the intervention was 61.26, which increased to 71.32 after the intervention, and participants reported a high level of satisfaction. Conclusion This study’s findings indicate that patient safety-themed escape room training significantly enhances students’ self-efficacy in patient safety, as well as their overall satisfaction and motivation.