Journal Article

Board game versus lecture-based seminar in the teaching of pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs—a randomized controlled trial

Pietras, Tadeusz, Kowalczyk, Edward, Karbownik, Michał S., Kwarta, Paulina, Wiktorowska-Owczarek, Anna, Mokros, Łukasz

2016

Overview

The effectiveness of an educational board game developed to teach the pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs to medical students was compared with the lecture-based seminar as a supplemental tool to improve short- and long-term knowledge retention and the perception of the learning method by students. A group of 124 students was randomized to board game and control groups. Short-term knowledge retention was assessed by comparing differences in post- and pre-tests scores, and long-term knowledge retention by comparing final examination scores. Both didactic methods seem to improve short-term knowledge retention to similar extent. Long-term knowledge retention of board game seminar participants was higher than those who attended the lecture-based seminar (ANCOVA, P = 0.035). The effect was most pronounced within 14 days after the intervention (ANOVA, P = 0.007). The board game was well perceived by the students. The board game seems to be a promising didactic tool, however, it should be further tested to assess its full educational utility. ‘AntimicroGAME’ is a promising didactic tool that has a potential to stimulate deeper understanding of the pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology / Antiinfectives and antibacterials / Antimicrobial agents / Drugs / Education / Education, Medical - methods / Female / Games / Humans / Learning / Male / Microbiology / Pharmacology / Pharmacology - education / Randomization / Retention / Seminars / Students / Students, Medical - psychology / Teaching Materials / Variance analysis