Exploring Medical Students' Learning Around Uncertainty Management Using a Digital Educational Escape Room: A...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Learning Environments
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Medical professionals face frequent career transitions requiring adaptation to new environments and teams.
• Managing uncertainty is a critical skill for medical students during the transition from academic settings to clinical placements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of a digital educational escape room (DEER) for medical students' learning about managing uncertainty during career transitions.
• To explore the design, implementation, and evaluation of DEERs within a Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework.

Main Methods:

• Design-based research methodology was employed to develop and test a prototype DEER.
• A mixed-methods approach included qualitative data from focus groups and observations, alongside quantitative data from questionnaires.
• Twenty-two medical students participated in the pilot study.

Main Results:

• 82% of participants found the DEER supportive of their learning regarding uncertainty.
• Students reported gaining new insights and approaches to managing uncertainty through game-based learning.
• Evidence of cognitive, teaching, and social presence within the Community of Inquiry framework was observed.

Conclusions:

• DEERs provide a valuable online learning platform for students to navigate complex and emotionally challenging transitions.
• The Community of Inquiry framework is applicable to the design, implementation, and evaluation of DEERs.
• Design principles for effective DEERs were proposed to guide future development.