Clinical Clu-Dr: A Scalable Gamified Tool for Clinical Reasoning Practice.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Reasoning Development
• Gamification in Learning

Background:

• Integrating clinical reasoning (CR) into preclinical medical curricula is challenging due to limited clinical exposure.
• Traditional methods like Q&A or case-based learning often have limitations in engagement and facilitator requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Clinical Clu-Dr (CC), a gamified, low-resource tool designed to facilitate early clinical reasoning practice in preclinical medical education.
• To evaluate the scalability and effectiveness of CC when delivered by both clinical and non-clinical educators.

Main Methods:

• CC adapts the Cluedo game format, presenting students with patient scenarios and mixed-format clues (e.g., lab results, imaging).
• Students work in small groups to analyze clues, formulate differential diagnoses, and reach a final diagnosis, utilizing principles of scaffolded learning and cognitive integration.
• Evaluation involved student surveys (n=128) and facilitator feedback (n=6) across 78 sessions.

Main Results:

• Students reported significantly higher perceived engagement and confidence in their clinical reasoning abilities.
• Facilitators observed strong, inclusive engagement, despite initial challenges adapting to a student-led format.
• The tool demonstrated feasibility for delivery by both clinical and non-clinical educators.

Conclusions:

• Clinical Clu-Dr (CC) offers a scalable solution for incorporating clinical reasoning practice into preclinical medical training.
• The gamified approach effectively enhances student engagement and confidence, supporting the integration of basic and clinical sciences.
• Successful implementation requires careful clue design and collaboration, but clinical expertise is not essential for facilitators.