This paper presents the protocol for a scoping review titled “Digital Teaching and Learning Media for Nursing and Health Care Courses in Germany: Protocol for a Scoping Review”. Authored by Jann Niklas Vogel, Jaqueline Letzin, and Stefan Schmidt from the University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, Germany, the protocol was published in JMIR Research Protocols in 2025.
The background of this study highlights the significant impact of digital transformation and new legal regulations on the nursing profession in Germany. These changes necessitate the integration of digital technologies not only into nursing practice but also into nursing training. While there are comprehensive regulations concerning the use of digital teaching and learning media in nursing education, their specific application and implementation vary. Digitalization in nursing and health care education is seen as having particular potential due to the complex professional requirements and the continuous evolution of subject-specific knowledge. Legal frameworks such as § 8 Abs. 8 SGB XI, the E-Health Act, and the Act on the Nursing Professions (Pflegeberufegesetz, PflBG) underscore the need to promote digitalization in professional practice and require nursing professionals to possess corresponding skills. The aim is to improve the quality of care and effectively prepare professionals for highly complex care situations, leading to better patient outcomes.
The primary objective of this scoping review is to map the existing evidence and identify the main concepts, theories, sources, and knowledge gaps regarding the use of digital teaching and learning formats in nursing and health care education within Germany. This study specifically addresses two main objectives: identifying digital teaching and learning formats, and examining their forms of implementation in the context of learners in nursing and health care professions. It seeks to answer which educational content and didactic concepts utilize digital teaching and learning formats in Germany, and what scientific findings exist regarding their use.
The study is designed as a scoping review, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines for reporting. Its methodology adheres to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist for presenting search results and reporting. The eligibility criteria are based on the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) scheme, including: (1) learners of nursing and health care professions, (2) digital teaching and learning formats, and (3) forms of implementation in Germany since 2007. The year 2007 was chosen as it marks the international milestone of the iPhone’s introduction, which enabled new forms of e-learning and increased research in mobile learning.
The review will draw information from six bibliographic databases: MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science Core Collection, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), PROSPERO, and APA PsycInfo. The search will be conducted in both German and English. Two researchers will independently screen and select studies, resolving any inconsistencies through discussion. Data from included studies will be extracted using a self-developed Excel form, with two authors independently coding the data. The synthesis of results will utilize qualitative content analysis to form categories inductively and deductively, with coded data summarized in tables and analyzed using descriptive statistics.
The literature search is planned for January 2025, with selection, coding, and data analysis expected to be completed by March 2025. The review anticipates mapping the applications of digital teaching and learning media in German nursing and health care education, providing relevant insights into application fields and design aspects. Preliminary searches indicate various digital technologies, such as learning programs, platforms, and virtual reality, are already in use. The review aims to offer a detailed list of such applications and assess their outcomes. The findings are expected to be valuable for educational institutions, researchers, health professionals, policymakers, and companies involved in digital teaching and learning media development.
Reference: Vogel, J. N., Letzin, J., & Schmidt, S. (2025). Digital Teaching and Learning Media for Nursing and Health Care Courses in Germany: Protocol for a Scoping Review. JMIR Research Protocols, 14(1), e60427. https://doi.org/10.2196/60427