The Effectiveness of the Three-dimensional Biochemical Activity Model of Pain

Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University90 enrolled

Overview

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to develop a pain biochemical activity model taken from a three-dimensional printer and fixed by applying epoxy resin and to investigate the effect of this model on nursing students' understanding of the pain mechanism and their motivation to learn. Methods: The universe of the study consisted of students enrolled in the Biochemistry course at the faculty of nursing of a university in the north of Türkiye during the spring semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. Students were divided into three strata based on their achievement average: high (75 and above), moderate (55-75), and low (54 and below). Forty-five students from each stratum were selected using computer-assisted randomization and assigned to the intervention and control groups. "Student Identification Form", "Pain Mechanism Information Form", "Instructional Material Motivation Scale" and The CONSORT checklist were used to collect data.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Pain Management 3D Printing Education Nursing

Interventions

3D printed pain biochemical activity training modelDEVICE

Computer-generated drawings designed to explain the biochemical mechanism of pain were created using plastic filaments from a 3D printer. Students were divided into small groups of nine using the resulting figures, and the processes of pain mechanisms were explained. At the end of the session, the figures were fixed by applying epoxy resin. After the students poured the epoxy resin onto the models in liquid form, it solidified within six hours, securing the shape as a transparent layer.

PowerPoint PresentationsOTHER

Students in the control group received one hour of training on pain by the same researcher, using face-to-face instruction and PowerPoint presentations. To avoid interaction between the two laboratories, the control group received training first, followed immediately by the intervention group, who were then transferred to the other laboratory.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Student Identification Form

This form including students' age, gender, high school type, native language, whether they choose a career voluntarily, and whether they have received previous training on pain.

Time frame: This form consisted of six questions and was administered to students one hour prior to the training.

Pain Mechanism Information Form

The Pain Mechanism Information Form was developed by the researchers based on literature. The developed questionnaire consists of 14 items, each prepared in a short-answer and fill-in-the-blank format. The scope of the Pain Mechanism Information Form includes: Pain physiology and classification, structure of nociceptors and pain transmission pathways, chemical mediators (Bradykinin, Prostaglandin, Serotonin, CGRP, Substance-P, Histamine), peripheral nerve ending release and mast cell activation, and vascular effects of inflammation (vasodilation, edema). Five experts were consulted to ensure the validity of the Pain Mechanism Information Form. Each item was reviewed for its appropriateness and clarity for the intended learning outcomes and content, and necessary revisions were made based on the expert opinions. To ensure reliability, scoring was assessed for short-answer tests, and the questionnaires were scored separately by two raters. The inter-rater reliability coefficient (Cohen'

Time frame: This form was applied to students 15 minutes before the training began and 5 minutes after the training ended.

Secondary Outcomes

Instructional Material Motivation Scale

This scale was developed by Tugtekin and Dursun (2022) to measure motivation related to the instructional materials used. It is a one-dimensional, 14-item, 5-point Likert-type self-report scale. High scores on the scale indicate high motivation. The Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient for the measurement tool in this study was determined to be 0.942. Item-total correlation values ranged from 0.629 to 0.820. Permission for use of the scale was obtained from the author via email.

Time frame: This form was applied to students 30 minutes after the training ended.