An open randomized controlled study comparing an online text-based scenario and a serious game by Belgian and Swiss pharmacy students.
Berger JCommunity 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.
Bawab NCommunity 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.
De Mooij JCommunity 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.
Sutter Widmer DTECFA, 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.
Szilas NTECFA, 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.
De Vriese CLaboratory of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP207 Boulevard du Triomphe, BE-1050 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: carine.de.vriese@ulb.ac.be.
Bugnon OCommunity 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.
English
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.