Abstract
Effective educational strategies are crucial for developing moral sensitivity in nursing students. Traditional lecture-based methods may lack engagement, prompting the exploration of game-based approaches. This study compares the impacts of game-based and lecture-based teaching on nursing students' moral sensitivity. In this quasi-experimental study, 46 fourth-semester nursing students from Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences participated. The control group received traditional lectures, while the intervention group engaged in game-based learning focused on moral scenarios in eight 90-minute sessions. Of the initial 46 students, 42 completed the study. Both groups had similar demographics. Post-intervention, the game-based group showed a statistically significant increase in total moral sensitivity scores (P = 0.017). Additionally, they scored higher in "experience of ethical problems and conflicts" (P = 0.044) and in "sincerity and benevolence" (P = 0.007) compared to the lecture group. It was concluded that game-based teaching methods significantly enhance moral sensitivity among nursing students compared to traditional lectures, particularly in areas related to ethical conflicts and benevolence. Future research should focus on the long-term effects and integration of game-based learning in nursing education.