Ready Patient One: How to Turn an In-Person Critical Care Simulation Scenario Into an Online Serious Game.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Medical Simulation
• Serious Gaming

Background:

• COVID-19 necessitated remote learning solutions in healthcare education.
• In-person simulation sessions were canceled, creating a need for alternative training methods.
• Serious gaming offers an engaging platform for interactive learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and describe a serious game for delivering critical care content remotely.
• To evaluate student reception and learning outcomes from the serious game.
• To provide a replicable model for serious game development in healthcare education.

Main Methods:

• An online serious game was developed using Choose-Your-Own-Adventure and Escape Room concepts.
• Interactive puzzles based on critical care scenarios were integrated into the game.
• Hyperlinks to basic science lectures reinforced learning, and post-game surveys assessed student experience.

Main Results:

• All 88 participating students completed the game, with 75% responding to the survey.
• The majority of students (57.6%) completed the game within 30-60 minutes.
• Over 90% of students agreed the game enhanced their understanding of critical care concepts and expressed interest in similar games.

Conclusions:

• The serious game was well-received and effectively delivered critical care content.
• The game facilitated the application of basic science principles to medical decision-making in a remote setting.
• The self-guided nature of the game required minimal facilitator involvement, with plans for future expansion and assessment integration.