Mobile Application Developed Based on the Thompson &Thompson Bioethical Decision-Making

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of a mobile application, developed based on the Thompson & Thompson bioethical decision-making model, on the ethical decision-making and ethical sensitivity of nursing students. Method: This randomized controlled trial, planned with pre-, post-, and followup tests, will be conducted at Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Nursing during the 2026-2027 academic year. The study population will consist of 4th-year students enrolled in the Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Nursing during the 2026-2027 academic year. The sample size was statistically calculated using the G Power 3.1.9.7 software package. The total sample size was calculated as 82. To prevent data loss, the sample size was increased by 10%, resulting in a sample size of 90 students. Students in the intervention group will use the mobile application. Students in the control group will conduct face-toface case analysis. The research data will be collected using the "Introductory Information Form", "Ethical Dilemma Test in Nursing" and "Adapted Ethical Sensitivity Scale for Nursing Students". The data will be analyzed using the IBM SPSS 22 software package. Conclusion: As a result of the research, it is predicted that the mobile application developed based on the Thompson & Thompson bioethical decision-making model will have a positive effect on the ethical decision-making and sensitivity levels of nursing students.

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Key information

Conditions

Mobile Applications Ethical Decision-making Ethical Sensitivity

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Being a 4th-year nursing student.
Having taken and successfully passed the Professional Ethics course.
Having a mobile device and internet access.
Willing to volunteer to participate in the research.

Exclusion criteria

Difficulty understanding and speaking Turkish
Having a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below 2.00

Exclusion criteria

from the study:

Experiencing problems with internet access
Completing data collection forms incompletely/incorrectly
Not attending any of the case study or case analysis sessions
Wishing to withdraw from the study

Treatment and study plan

Mobile Application Developed Based on the Thompson & Thompson Bioethical Decision-Making Model

Other

The application content is a mobile application created by researchers and developed by a computer engineer. The application will be compatible with both iOS and Android software. Once the application is ready, it will be made available for download to the phones of the students in the intervention group. The mobile application will have student and faculty login options. Students will be able to register and log in to the application with their student numbers and a password they have chosen. The application interface will include case studies, ethical statements, an ethics information library, and online support areas. Six ethical case scenarios created by the researcher will be acted out with a patient and a nurse, and videos will be recorded. Each of the recorded videos will be uploaded to the mobile application.

Ethical case discussions

Other

For case discussions with students in the control group, ethical cases from the book Ethical Decision Making in Nursing will be used.

Primary outcomes

Ethical decision-making

Time frame: 3 months

Ethical decision-making will be assessed using the Nursing Ethical Dilemma Test. The lowest possible Principled Thinking score is 18, and the highest is 66; the lowest Practical Thinking score is 6, and the highest is 36. The sum of the scores for each dilemma constitutes an A score. Accordingly, scores between 6 and 17 indicate that students are familiar with a similar dilemma, while scores between 18 and 30 indicate that they are not familiar with a similar dilemma.

Secondary outcomes

Ethical sensitivity

Time frame: 3 months

Ethical sensitivity will be assessed using the Ethical Sensitivity Scale Adapted for Nursing Students. The total score of the scale ranges from 30 to 210. Higher scores indicate higher ethical sensitivity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Necmettin Erbakan University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of a Mobile Application Developed Based on the Thompson &Thompson Bioethical Decision-Making Model on Nursing Students' Ethical Decision-Making and Ethical Sensitivity: A Randomized Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start: 2027
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: May 22, 2026
Registry last updated: May 22, 2026

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.

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