A puzzle used to teach the cardiac cycle

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Cardiac physiology is a fundamental subject in health science education.
• Traditional teaching methods may not fully engage all students in understanding the cardiac cycle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a puzzle designed for teaching cardiac physiology.
• To evaluate the puzzle's effectiveness as a learning tool for undergraduate students.

Main Methods:

• Development of a puzzle involving cardiac cycle phases, anatomical states, and valve functions.
• Students used puzzle pieces to sequence figures and complete a table.
• Evaluation of the puzzle's utility by biology, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and nursing students across seven institutions.

Main Results:

• Over 95% of students found the puzzle useful for learning cardiac physiology.
• 64.5% reported it helped resolve doubts and deepen understanding.
• 30.9% indicated it was essential for grasping the cardiac cycle.

Conclusions:

• A simple, low-cost puzzle can serve as an effective active learning tool.
• The puzzle complements theoretical lectures, enhancing comprehension of cardiac cycle physiology.
• This methodology shows promise for improving student engagement and learning outcomes in physiology courses.