Games and Gamification in Nursing: Mapping the Literature and Future Directions

IF 4.2 2区医学 Q1 EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES

Nurse Education Today Pub Date : 2025-08-29 DOI:10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106860

Merve Ozlu , Serap Arican , Filiz Kantek

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Games and gamification have emerged as innovative tools in nursing, offering engaging and interactive approaches to enhance education and practice. Despite the increasing volume of research, gaps remain in understanding the current state of nursing literature.

Objectives

This research aims to map the trends, thematic foci, and research gaps in the field of gaming and gamification in nursing through bibliometric analysis.

Design

A descriptive bibliometric analysis design was used.

Methods

Data were retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases using keywords related to gamification and nursing. A total of 968 studies were subjected to analysis using the R-based "biblioshiny for bibliometrix" application. Key metrics, including study trends, prominent topics, trending topics, thematic maps, and country collaborations, were systematically analyzed.

Results

A recent analysis has revealed rapid growth in the field in recent years. The most productive and influential journal is Nurse Education Today, authored by Tyerman, J., and Verkuyl. The United States of America has emerged as the most productive nation in this field. A comprehensive keyword analysis reveals that the terms "nursing education" and "nurses" hold a central position within the field. The analysis further revealed that the most frequently used author keywords were "nursing student," "simulation," "gamification," "virtual reality," and "game-based learning." The terms "digital game," "serious gaming," "empath," "virtual reality," "simulation," and "gamification" were identified as trending topics.

Conclusions

Games and gamification in nursing are rapidly developing fields with trending topics such as gamification, virtual reality, and serious gaming in recent years. Studies have mainly focused on nursing education. There is a large research gap in the professional development of nurses and in improving the quality of care. Addressing these gaps in future research will contribute to expanding the field, improving the professional development of nurses, and improving the quality of care.

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护理中的游戏和游戏化：绘制文献和未来方向

游戏和游戏化已经成为护理领域的创新工具，提供了引人入胜和互动的方法来加强教育和实践。尽管研究数量不断增加，但在了解护理文献现状方面仍存在差距。目的本研究旨在通过文献计量学分析，绘制护理领域游戏化和游戏化的趋势、主题焦点和研究差距。设计采用描述性文献计量学分析设计。方法采用游戏化和护理相关关键词从Scopus和Web of Science数据库中检索数据。使用基于r的“biblioshiny for bibliometrix”应用程序对总共968项研究进行了分析。系统分析了关键指标，包括研究趋势、突出主题、趋势主题、专题地图和国家合作。结果最近的分析显示，近年来该领域发展迅速。最有成效和影响力的杂志是由Tyerman， J.和Verkuyl撰写的《今日护士教育》。美利坚合众国已成为这一领域最具生产力的国家。综合关键词分析表明，“护理教育”和“护士”在该领域占据中心地位。分析进一步显示，最常用的作者关键词是“护理学生”、“模拟”、“游戏化”、“虚拟现实”和“基于游戏的学习”。“数字游戏”、“严肃游戏”、“移情”、“虚拟现实”、“模拟”和“游戏化”等术语被确定为热门话题。结论护理领域的游戏化和游戏化是近年来发展迅速的领域，游戏化、虚拟现实、严肃游戏等是近年来的热门话题。研究主要集中在护理教育方面。在护士专业发展和护理质量提高方面存在较大的研究空白。在未来的研究中解决这些差距将有助于扩大研究领域，促进护士的专业发展，提高护理质量。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nurse Education Today 医学-护理

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

12.80%

发文量

349

审稿时长

58 days

期刊介绍： Nurse Education Today is the leading international journal providing a forum for the publication of high quality original research, review and debate in the discussion of nursing, midwifery and interprofessional health care education, publishing papers which contribute to the advancement of educational theory and pedagogy that support the evidence-based practice for educationalists worldwide. The journal stimulates and values critical scholarly debate on issues that have strategic relevance for leaders of health care education. The journal publishes the highest quality scholarly contributions reflecting the diversity of people, health and education systems worldwide, by publishing research that employs rigorous methodology as well as by publishing papers that highlight the theoretical underpinnings of education and systems globally. The journal will publish papers that show depth, rigour, originality and high standards of presentation, in particular, work that is original, analytical and constructively critical of both previous work and current initiatives. Authors are invited to submit original research, systematic and scholarly reviews, and critical papers which will stimulate debate on research, policy, theory or philosophy of nursing and related health care education, and which will meet and develop the journal''s high academic and ethical standards.