Artificial Intelligence (AI)NCT07370285
AI-Supported Empathy Mapping to Enhance Communication and Grit in Pediatric Nursing Students
A study testing AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model in people with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Empathy, run by Mackay Memorial Hospital.
Trial summary
The nurse-patient communication environment in pediatric care is characterized by high uncertainty and complexity. Due to children's limited language development and emotional regulation abilities, coupled with parents' high level of involvement, nursing students often experience anxiety, lack of confidence, and… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Artificial Intelligence (AI), Empathy, Scaffolding
- What is being tested?
- AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 66 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 20 Apr 2026to 31 Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Undergraduate nursing students aged 18 years or older
- Students enrolled in the Pediatric Nursing Practicum course
Who cannot join
- 1. Students who have not passed the Pediatric Nursing course
About this study
Official title: Enhancing Pediatric Nursing Students' Communication Skills and Grit Through an AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model: A Practice-Based Study
The nurse-patient communication environment in pediatric care is characterized by high uncertainty and complexity. Due to children's limited language development and emotional regulation abilities, coupled with parents' high level of involvement, nursing students often experience anxiety, lack of confidence, and avoidance behaviors, which negatively affect their clinical learning outcomes and the establishment of therapeutic relationships. Therefore, providing effective communication support strategies is essential in pediatric nursing education. This study aims to implement an instructional scaffolding model using artificial intelligence (AI)-generated empathy maps to enhance the communication skills, empathy performance, and grit of nursing students during pediatric clinical practicums when encountering communication challenges.
A mixed-methods research design was adopted, and the participants were third-year nursing students enrolled in a pediatric nursing practicum course. The teaching intervention included AI-assisted generation of age-appropriate communication strategies, the construction of a grit-oriented empathy map, small group scenario-based exercises, and the application of learned strategies in clinical settings. Quantitative data were collected using pre- and post-intervention assessments, including an empathy scale, a communication skills scale, and a grit scale, to evaluate changes in learning outcomes. Qualitative data, including reflective journals, clinical observations, and focus group interviews, were analyzed to explore students' learning processes and strategy adaptations. Triangulation was applied to strengthen the validity of the findings.
It is anticipated that this teaching model will enhance students' understanding of pediatric patients' emotional needs, strengthen their communication strategy application and clinical interaction quality, and promote persistence and adaptability in challenging situations. Through evidence-based teaching practice, this study is expected to provide a feasible and scalable innovative instructional model that supports the effective integration of AI into clinical nursing education, thereby improving pediatric nursing competence and the quality of care for children.
- Conditions
- Artificial Intelligence (AI), Empathy, Scaffolding, Pediatric Nursing, Communication Skills, Grit
- Being tested
- AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding ModelBehavioural
The AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model is an educational intervention that combines empathy-map construction with AI-assisted reflective prompts to enhance communication skills, empathy, and grit in pediatric nursing students. The intervention uses case-based learning within regular coursework, involves no clinical treatment or patient contact, and is considered minimal risk.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 2（Control / Comparison Arm） | No intervention | Not described |
| AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Intervention | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Communication Skills
Communication Competence Instrument (CCI). The Communication Competence Instrument was developed by Lee (2013) to enhance nurse-patient communication skills among nursing students. The instrument consists of eight items rated on a five-point Likert scale, with scores ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Sample items include: "I am able to establish a good nurse-patient relationship with patients/family members" and "I am able to ensure that patients/family members understand the key points of the communication." Higher scores indicate better communication competence.
In Lee's study, the instrument demonstrated excellent reliability and validity, with a Cronbach's α of 0.92, a Spearman-Brown coefficient of 0.88, and a Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.88, indicating strong internal consistency and satisfactory psychometric properties for assessing communication behaviors.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Jan 2026
- Study start20 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Artificial Intelligence (AI)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Mackay Memorial Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Yu-Shiu Liu, Mackay Memorial Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07370285
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 25MMHIS511e
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Enhancing Pediatric Nursing Students' Communication Skills and Grit Through an AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model: A Practice-Based Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07370285
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 25MMHIS511e
- Conditions
- Artificial Intelligence (AI), Empathy, Scaffolding, Pediatric Nursing, Communication Skills, Grit
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Mackay Memorial HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The nurse-patient communication environment in pediatric care is characterized by high uncertainty and complexity. Due to children's limited language development and emotional regulation abilities, coupled with parents' high level of involvement, nursing students often experience anxiety, lack of confidence, and avoidance behaviors, which negatively affect their clinical learning outcomes and the establishment of therapeutic relationships. Therefore, providing effective communication support strategies is essential in pediatric nursing education. This study aims to implement an instructional scaffolding model using artificial intelligence (AI)-generated empathy maps to enhance the communication skills, empathy performance, and grit of nursing students during pediatric clinical practicums when encountering communication challenges.
A mixed-methods research design was adopted, and the participants were third-year nursing students enrolled in a pediatric nursing practicum course. The teaching intervention included AI-assisted generation of age-appropriate communication strategies, the construction of a grit-oriented empathy map, small group scenario-based exercises, and the application of learned strategies in clinical settings. Quantitative data were collected using pre- and post-intervention assessments, including an empathy scale, a communication skills scale, and a grit scale, to evaluate changes in learning outcomes. Qualitative data, including reflective journals, clinical observations, and focus group interviews, were analyzed to explore students' learning processes and strategy adaptations. Triangulation was applied to strengthen the validity of the findings.
It is anticipated that this teaching model will enhance students' understanding of pediatric patients' emotional needs, strengthen their communication strategy application and clinical interaction quality, and promote persistence and adaptability in challenging situations. Through evidence-based teaching practice, this study is expected to provide a feasible and scalable innovative instructional model that supports the effective integration of AI into clinical nursing education, thereby improving pediatric nursing competence and the quality of care for children.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 2（Control / Comparison Arm） | No intervention | – |
| AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Undergraduate nursing students aged 18 years or older
- Students enrolled in the Pediatric Nursing Practicum course
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 1. Students who have not passed the Pediatric Nursing course
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding ModelThe AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model is an educational intervention that combines empathy-map construction with AI-assisted reflective prompts to enhance communication skills, empathy, and grit in pediatric nursing students. The intervention uses case-based learning within regular coursework, involves no clinical treatment or patient contact, and is considered minimal risk. | Behavioural | AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Intervention |
Primary outcome
Communication Skills
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention
Communication Competence Instrument (CCI). The Communication Competence Instrument was developed by Lee (2013) to enhance nurse-patient communication skills among nursing students. The instrument consists of eight items rated on a five-point Likert scale, with scores ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Sample items include: "I am able to establish a good nurse-patient relationship with patients/family members" and "I am able to ensure that patients/family members understand the key points of the communication." Higher scores indicate better communication competence. In Lee's study, the instrument demonstrated excellent reliability and validity, with a Cronbach's α of 0.92, a Spearman-Brown coefficient of 0.88, and a Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.88, indicating strong internal consistency and satisfactory psychometric properties for assessing communication behaviors.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Jan 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing AI-Supported Empathy-Map Scaffolding Model in people with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Empathy, run by Mackay Memorial Hospital.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Communication Skills (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jan 2026.