MediLex: the medical jargon-busting game

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Linguistics
• Game-Based Learning

Background:

• Medical students must master a vast lexicon for clear communication.
• Acquiring medical terminology is a critical component of medical training.
• The MediLex intervention was developed to aid in this skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the MediLex intervention, a card-based word game.
• To evaluate medical students' experiences with the MediLex game.
• To assess the game's impact on learning medical terminology.

Main Methods:

• MediLex is a small-group, card-based description game with 500 medical terms.
• Students described terms within a time limit for peers to guess.
• Student experiences were evaluated via electronic surveys with free-text responses and content analysis.

Main Results:

• Sixty-eight students participated, with 61 completing the survey.
• Fifty-six of 61 students found MediLex a valuable learning experience.
• Key themes included identified knowledge gaps, knowledge reactivation, improved explanation skills, engagement, and fast pace.

Conclusions:

• Learning medical vocabulary is crucial for comprehension and fluency.
• Game-based learning, like MediLex, facilitates simultaneous exploration of pronunciation and meaning.
• MediLex provides a valuable, well-received method for mastering complex medical terminology.