Gamification in Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Gamification is understood as the use of game principles and elements in non-game activities, using the thought process and its mechanisms to attract the attention of users to solve problems. The elements that stand out in this methodology are: the design of goals and objectives, rules that limit actions, creation of a narrative, freedom of choice and error, use of incentives, immediate feedback, etc. Among the benefits of using gamification are: improving the learning experience, combining fun with study, allowing the resolution of real-life challenges without fear of error, and accompanying innovative educational strategies. Although there is extensive research on gamification in medical education, there is little evidence of studies that address its impact on learning. The objective of this research is to evaluate the impact on learning through gamification in emergency medicine in medical students in Chile. Methods: randomized controlled study with voluntary participation. Participants will attend an emergency medicine class. Then, they will be randomly assigned to a control group, with traditional methodology of discussion of clinical cases, and another group with gamified methodology, which will simulate working in an emergency room, solving clinical cases. The gamification elements incorporated will be: narrative, game rules, freedom of choice, time restriction, feedback, freedom to make mistakes, cooperation and competition. Finally, participants will answer an evaluation to measure the level of learning achieved. Results: Seventeen students from seven universities in Chile participated, mainly from the IV and V levels of the degree program. Due to the small sample of the study, it cannot be affirmed that there is a significant difference between the results, so it is necessary to carry out more studies to identify the impact of the strategy on learning.