Effectiveness of a serious game for medical education on insulin therapy: a pilot study

• Main Authors: Leandro A. Diehl, Pedro A. Gordan, Roberto Z. Esteves, Izabel C. M. M. Coelho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Series: Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Subjects: Video games; medical education; insulin; diabetes mellitus; computer-assisted instruction
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2359-39972015000500470&lng=en&tlng=en

Objective We report the preliminary assessment of InsuOnline©, a serious game designed for medical education on insulin therapy.Materials and methods We conducted a pilot study with 41 undergraduate medical students and Internal Medicine residents to assess the educational effectiveness of InsuOnline©, as compared to a traditional educational activity (lecture, cases discussion). Knowledge, skills and beliefs on insulin therapy were evaluated by a questionnaire applied before, immediately after, and 3 months after both interventions.Results Mean knowledge/skills score was improved from 68% to 89% in traditional education group (n = 23; p < 0.001), and from 61% to 90% in game group (n = 18; p < 0.001). After 3 months, mean score decreased (to 80% in traditional education group, and to 78% in game group; p < 0.001 for both) but remained significantly higher than at baseline in both groups (p < 0.001 for both). Although mean score was lower in game group than in traditional education group at baseline (p = 0.04), no difference remained between groups either immediately or 3 months post-intervention. Score increment was better with the game (29%) than with traditional education (21%; p = 0.04). Beliefs improved in the game group only.Conclusions InsuOnline© is at least as effective as a traditional educational activity for medical education on insulin therapy, and it can a good option for large-scale continuing medical education on diabetes. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2015;59(5):470-3