JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Gamification has emerged as an innovative pedagogical strategy in the educational field, transferring game tools to the teaching-learning process to improve students' motivation and engagement.

Objective:

This study aimed to describe nursing students' perceptions of mental disorders using interactive charts as a gamification tool.

Methods:

This research was carried out at the Nursing School of a University of Madrid, Spain, with the participation of 50 first-year students enrolled in the General and Developmental Psychology course of the Nursing Degree. Data were collected through focus groups and reflective narratives with semi-structured interview questions between March and April 2024. After data collection, transcripts were generated and subjected to thematic analysis following the COREQ checklist.

Results:

Three themes emerged from the analysis: (T1) perception and stigma of mental disorders, (T2) emotional connection and personal reflection in learning about mental disorders (T3) gamification tools and their impact on learning.

Conclusions:

Gamification represents a valuable strategy for teaching psychology and mental disorders in nursing. Through dynamics with interactive charts, students not only acquire a deeper clinical understanding of pathologies, but also explore their emotional and social implications. This methodology helps to form nurses who are more empathetic, reflective and prepared to face the complexity of mental illnesses, turning learning into an active and enriching experience that positively impacts their future professional practice.