Effect of a Chatbot on Nursing Students' Self-Efficacy in Pediatric Medication Administration

This study looked at whether a chatbot can help nursing students feel more confident about giving medicines to children. Giving medicines to children is difficult because doses depend on the child's weight, and mistakes can be harmful. Third-year nursing students starting their pediatric clinical placement took part. They were divided by chance into two groups. Both groups received the usual training. One group also used a chatbot that helped with medicine dose calculations and answered questions about giving medicines to children, based on a trusted nursing textbook. The other group used only the usual references. Students' confidence in giving medicines to children was measured with a questionnaire before and after the placement. The study compared how much each group's confidence changed to see whether the chatbot added a benefit beyond the usual training.

Inclusion Criteria: * Third-year nursing student * Entering the pediatric (child health and diseases) clinical placement for the first time * Owning a smartphone or computer * Providing voluntary informed consent to participate Exclusion Criteria: * Previous completion of a pediatric clinical placement * Prior participation in a similar educational intervention