Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07274839

Interactive Ren'Py Learning in Physiotherapy Education

Advances in health professions education increasingly emphasize the use of digital technologies to enhance student engagement and support diverse learning needs. In physiotherapy training, particularly in technically complex subjects like electrotherapy, conventional instruction may fall short in fostering active learning and knowledge retention. Game-based platforms such as Ren'Py offer an opportunity to integrate interactive, scenario-based learning into the curriculum. This study aimed to assess the impact of Ren'Py-based digital materials on learning outcomes by comparing conventional, digital, and hybrid teaching models in an undergraduate electrotherapy course.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Student

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Facultu of Health Sciences

Zonguldak, Kozlu, 67000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Voluntary participation
  • Cumulative GPA above 1.80
  • Access to a device compatible with at least one of the following operating systems or platforms: Linux x86_64/Arm, Windows 7 or later, or Mac OS X 10.10 or later

Exclusion criteria

  • History of course failure due to absenteeism

Treatment and study plan

Digital Instructional Material

Other

A lesson package containing a story in an interactive visual novel format created using Ren'Py. This package was designed by the researchers to include the theoretical and practical contents of the medium frequency currents unit, again using the content of the CK4Stim project.

Conventional Instructional Material

Other

The course content was standardized using materials from the "CK4Stim-Clinical Key for Electrical Stimulation in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation" project (CK4Stim, Access Date: October 2024). The CK4Stim project, supported by the European Union and involving multiple projects partners, aims to develop a common language for the use of electrical stimulation in physiotherapy and rehabilitation education in accordance with European standards.

Primary outcomes

  1. Theoretical Knowledge Examination Score

    Time frame: Measured at 1-week follow-up after completion of the educational intervention.

    A researcher-developed 20-item multiple-choice theoretical exam assessing students' knowledge of electrotherapy principles.

    Full Scale Name: Theoretical Knowledge Examination (20-item multiple-choice test) Score Range: 0 to 100 points Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better theoretical knowledge.

  2. Practical Skills Examination Score

    Time frame: Measured at 1-week follow-up after completion of the educational intervention.

    A 16-item practical performance assessment evaluated by an independent three-member exam jury. Each item was rated as "Sufficient", "Partial", or "Insufficient", and final scores were calculated as the arithmetic mean of the three jury evaluations, scaled to a 0-100 range.

    Full Scale Name: Practical Skills Performance Assessment (16-item jury-rated evaluation) Score Range: 0 to 100 points Interpretation: Higher scores indicate better practical performance.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cognitive Load Rating Score

    Time frame: Measured at 1-week follow-up after completion of the educational intervention.

    Subjective cognitive load was assessed using the nine-point Cognitive Load Rating Scale developed by Paas and Van Merriënboer (1993). Participants rated the level of mental effort experienced during the learning activity on a nine-point Likert-type scale.

    Full Scale Name: Paas & Van Merriënboer Cognitive Load Rating Scale (9-point Likert scale) Score Range: 1 (Very Low) to 9 (Very High) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater perceived cognitive load.

  2. Instructional Materials Motivation Scale Score

    Time frame: Measured at 1-week follow-up after completion of the educational intervention.

    Motivation toward the instructional materials was assessed using the 33-item Instructional Materials Motivation Scale (IMMS) developed by Keller. Participants rated each item on a five-point Likert scale evaluating attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction related to the instructional materials.

    Full Scale Name: Instructional Materials Motivation Scale (IMMS), 33-item Likert scale Score Range: 33 (minimum) to 165 (maximum) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate higher motivation toward the instructional materials.

Other outcomes

  1. Attitude Toward the Physiotherapy Profession Score

    Time frame: Assessed at baseline (prior to the intervention) and again 1 week after completion of the intervention.

    Attitudes toward the physiotherapy profession were measured using the Attitude Toward the Physiotherapy Profession Scale developed by Turhan. The scale contains 35 items rated on a five-point Likert scale and assesses three dimensions: professional satisfaction, required professional competencies, and general concerns regarding the profession.

    Full Scale Name: Attitude Toward the Physiotherapy Profession Scale (35-item Likert scale) Score Range: 35 (minimum) to 175 (maximum) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate more positive attitudes toward the physiotherapy profession.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ahmet Koçyiğit

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Digitalization Through the Use of Ren'Py-Based Interactive Learning Experiences in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Education: A Randomised, Controlled, Single-Blind Study

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Dec 10, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.