An open randomized controlled study comparing an online text-based scenario and a serious game by Belgian and Swiss pharmacy students

Jérôme Berger; Noura Bawab; Jeremy De Mooij; Denise Sutter Widmer; Nicolas Szilas; Carine De Vriese; Olivier Bugnon

doi:10.1016/j.cptl.2017.11.002

An open randomized controlled study comparing an online text-based scenario and a serious game by Belgian and Swiss pharmacy students

Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2018 Mar;10(3):267-276. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2017.11.002. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

Authors

Jérôme Berger¹, Noura Bawab², Jeremy De Mooij³, Denise Sutter Widmer⁴, Nicolas Szilas⁵, Carine De Vriese⁶, Olivier Bugnon⁷

Affiliations

¹ Community Pharmacy Research Unit of the University of Geneva, Pharmacie de la Policlinique Médicale Universitaire, 44 Rue du Bugnon, Lausanne CH-1011, Switzerland. Electronic address: jerome.berger@hospvd.ch.
² Community Pharmacy Research Unit of the University of Geneva, Pharmacie de la Policlinique Médicale Universitaire, 44 Rue du Bugnon, Lausanne CH-1011, Switzerland. Electronic address: noura.bawab@hospvd.ch.
³ Community Pharmacy Research Unit of the University of Geneva, Pharmacie de la Policlinique Médicale Universitaire, 44 Rue du Bugnon, Lausanne CH-1011, Switzerland. Electronic address: jeremy.de-mooij@hospvd.ch.
⁴ TECFA, Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, University of Geneva, Boulevard du Pont-d'Arve 40, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Electronic address: denise.sutterwidmer@unige.ch.
⁵ TECFA, Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, University of Geneva, Boulevard du Pont-d'Arve 40, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Electronic address: nicolas.szilas@unige.ch.
⁶ Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP207 Boulevard du Triomphe, BE-1050 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: carine.de.vriese@ulb.ac.be.
⁷ Community Pharmacy Research Unit of the University of Geneva, Pharmacie de la Policlinique Médicale Universitaire, 44 Rue du Bugnon, Lausanne CH-1011, Switzerland. Electronic address: olivier.bugnon@hospvd.ch.

PMID: 29764629
DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2017.11.002

Abstract

Introduction: To compare online learning tools, looped, branch serious game (SG) and linear text-based scenario (TBS), among a sample of Belgian and Swiss pharmacy students.

Methods: Open randomized controlled study. The lesson was based on the case of a benign cough in a healthy child. A randomized sample of 117 students: only the Swiss students had attended a previous lecture on coughs. Participation rate, pre- and post-experience Likert scales and students' clinical knowledge were measured.

Results: Our primary hypothesis was demonstrated: students favored the SG even if navigation was rated as more complex, and students who performed the SG better understood the aim of pharmacist triage in case of cough. The influence of the SG appeared to be linked to the presence of a previous lecture in the curriculum.

Discussion and conclusion: SG and TBS are effective to teach pharmacist triage. Higher SG complexity should be used to teach the aim of pharmacist triage in the case of a specific disease and could be an alternative to simulated patients. A simpler TBS does not require a previous lecture and a debriefing to be fully effective.

Keywords: Europe; Online training; Pharmacy education; Pharmacy students; Serious game; Virtual patient.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Belgium
Consumer Behavior
Curriculum*
Education, Distance
Education, Pharmacy*
Female
Humans
Internet*
Male
Patient Simulation*
Pharmaceutical Services
Pharmacists
Problem-Based Learning / methods*
Students, Pharmacy*
Switzerland
Video Games*
Young Adult