A Multidimensional Intervention to Improve Ethical Decision-Making Competence Among Nursing Student Interns
Ethical Decision-Making Competence in Nursing Student Interns
What this study involves
The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Age range
- Not specified - Not specified
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Participants
- 108 Estimated
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 5-week multidimensional intervention in improving ethical decision-making competence among nursing student interns. The intervention is designed to address multiple factors influencing ethical decision-making during clinical training. The study will also examine whether the effects of the intervention are maintained at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention ends.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does the 5-week multidimensional intervention improve ethical decision-making competence among nursing student interns compared with usual clinical internship training?
2. Are the effects of the intervention maintained at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention ends?
Researchers will compare nursing student interns who receive the 5-week multidimensional intervention with those who receive usual clinical internship training to evaluate the intervention's effectiveness.
Participants will:
1. Complete questionnaires assessing all study outcome measures at baseline, at the end of the 5-week intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention ends.
2. Participate in the educational activities provided to their assigned study group.
3. Complete follow-up assessments as scheduled.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Undergraduate nursing student interns undertaking clinical internships at tertiary Grade A hospitals.
2. First-time hospital interns with no more than 3 months of internship experience.
3. Good communication and language expression skills.
4. Willingness to participate in the study and provide informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Individuals with a history of mental illness or communication difficulties.
2. Nursing student interns who discontinue their hospital internship or take a leave of absence from their studies during the study period.
Treatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Random assignment
- Masking
- Double masked
Multidimensional Intervention Group
Participants assigned to this group will receive a 5-week multidimensional intervention designed to improve ethical decision-making competence among nursing student interns during clinical learning. The intervention will address factors relevant to ethical decision-making through structured educational activities. Participants will complete outcome assessments at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention ends.
Other: Multidimensional Intervention Group · Other: Usual Clinical Internship Training Group
Usual Clinical Internship Training Group
Participants assigned to this group will receive usual clinical internship training according to the hospital's standard training arrangements. They will not receive the study-specific 5-week multidimensional intervention during the intervention period. Participants will complete outcome assessments at baseline, at the end of the 5-week intervention period, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention period ends.
Other: Usual Clinical Internship Training Group
Multidimensional Intervention Group OTHER
A 5-week multidimensional educational intervention to improve ethical decision-making competence among nursing student interns. Sessions will be delivered once weekly, lasting 1.5-2 hours each. The intervention includes five modules: (1) ethical issue recognition; (2) ethical emotion regulation; (3) ethical reasoning and decision-making; (4) ethical expression and action; and (5) clinical teaching rounds. The intervention aims to strengthen participants' ethical awareness, emotional regulation, decision-making, and ability to address ethical challenges during clinical learning.
Usual Clinical Internship Training Group OTHER
Participants in the usual clinical internship training group will receive routine clinical learning and teaching according to the hospital's established training program. Regular activities include clinical skills training, observation and participation in nursing care under the supervision of clinical instructors, case discussions. When encountering ethical issues during clinical learning, participants will generally seek advice from their clinical instructors or supervising nurses. No additional study-specific intervention will be provided.
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Ethical Decision-Making Competence Scale
Time frame: At baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention.
The scale consists of 18 items across four dimensions and assesses nursing students' creativity, confidence, awareness, and neutrality when facing ethical decision-making dilemmas involving patients or their families. It is based on Rest's Four-Component Model of Ethical Decision-Making, comprising ethical judgment, ethical sensitivity, ethical motivation, and ethical action. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The total score ranges from 0 to 72, with higher scores indicating a higher level of ethical decision-making competence.
Secondary measures
Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale
Time frame: At baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention.
This scale measures nurses' levels of imposter phenomenon and their attributions. It consists of 18 items across three dimensions: passive concealment (4 items), external attribution (6 items), and self-doubt (8 items). Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("completely inconsistent") to 5 ("completely consistent"). The total score ranges from 18 to 90, with higher scores indicating a more severe imposter phenomenon.
Rushton Moral Resilience Scale
Time frame: At baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention.
The scale consists of 17 items across three dimensions: coping with nursing ethical dilemmas and relational integrity (10 items), personal integrity (2 items), and ethical efficacy in nursing (5 items). Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 4 ("strongly agree"). The total score ranges from 17 to 68, with higher scores indicating greater ethical resilience.
Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire for Nursing Students
Time frame: At baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention.
This scale measures nursing students' moral sensitivity and consists of 11 items across three dimensions: moral strength (4 items), moral burden (5 items), and moral responsibility (2 items). Each item is rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 6 ("strongly agree"). The total score ranges from 11 to 66, with higher scores indicating greater moral sensitivity.
Professional Quality Of Life Scale
Time frame: At baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups after the intervention.
The scale consists of three dimensions: compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS). CS represents a positive aspect, whereas BO and STS represent negative aspects. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("never") to 5 ("always"). The cutoff scores for CS, BO, and STS are 27, and \>17, respectively. Compassion fatigue severity is classified as mild when one dimension exceeds its cutoff, moderate when two dimensions exceed their cutoffs, and severe when all three dimensions exceed their cutoffs.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (0)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
No locations are listed. Use the official study contact.
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- Yangzhou University
- Study start
- 2026-11 Estimated
- Primary completion
- 2027-03 Estimated
- Study completion
- 2027-04 Estimated
- First posted
- Oct 26, 2026 Actual
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
Official study title
A Multidimensional Intervention to Improve Ethical Decision-Making Competence Among Nursing Student Interns
Ask Wellness Clinical Research
Your message goes to WCR, including when this study is run by another organization. WCR may offer general guidance but may not operate this trial, have access to its team or be able to enroll you.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026