Evaluation of Paediatric Nursing Students' Medication Calculation Competence: An Observational Study Using a Gamified Contest.

Aim: To analyse the general ability of second-degree nursing students at the -REDACTED- to calculate, prepare, and administer paediatric medication.

Design: A descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out through a gamified educational innovation project: "Medication Contest" following the STROBE statement.

Methods: The study included all 224 students enrolled in the second year of nursing. The expert faculty created and validated an ad hoc questionnaire with 30 multiple-choice questions. These responses were analysed to evaluate mathematical, conceptual, and concentration-related competencies. Secondary variables were calculated, and correlations with the total score were examined. All variables were correlated with the final score, and their predictive capacities were analysed. To differentiate competencies, the 50 highest scores were compared to the rest of the participants.

Results: Out of the 224 participants, 50 qualified for the second phase, with 37 achieving the best results. The median final score was 3/30 (IQR 6.3), differentiating 8.8 and 2.3 (p < 0.001) between those included and not in the top 50. Twenty-three primary variables and all secondary variables significantly correlated with the total score. Mathematical competence was the main predictor variable of the final score (R² = 0.609). All secondary variables were discriminatory.

Public contribution: The general ability to calculate, prepare, and administer paediatric medication in the 2nd year nursing population is deficient. Mathematical competence is the predictor variable of the final score, identifying an area of intervention and the evaluation on which to intervene.

Tweetable abstract: Gamification enhances medication calculation training for nursing students through competitive quizzes and simulations.