Enhancing radiographic interpretation: effects of gamification on medical students' knowledge, skills, and satisfaction - a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND

Interpreting radiographs is a complex task due to the diverse pathologies that can affect their appearance, leading to difficulties and ambiguities in interpretation. It is crucial to employ engaging and effective educational methods for medical students. This study focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating a gamification approach to enhance radiographic interpretation skills among medical students.

METHODS

The research utilized a Quazi-experimental design involving 82 fifth-year medical students enrolled in a radiographic interpretation course during the 2022-2023 years. Participants were divided into two groups of received internship in a routine method (In-person rotation) and gamified approach training (In-person rotation + Gamification). Students engaged in a competitive gamified environment with a total of 200 clinical cases. Three assessment instruments were used: 80 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), 10 scenario-based cases in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and a 21-item Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire to evaluate student satisfaction. Data analysis was conducted using paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and one-sample t-tests with SPSS version 24.

RESULTS

The comparison of knowledge scores between post-tests and pre-tests indicated significant differences for both routine method (In-person rotation) (P < 0.001) and the gamification approach (P < 0.001). However, when comparing post-test scores between the two groups, the results revealed that the gamification method was significantly more effective than In-person rotation (P < 0.001). Additionally, the acceptance of technology, as measured by student satisfaction in the gamified education group, exceeded the cutoff average across all components.

CONCLUSION

The study's findings demonstrate that gamified method effectively enhances knowledge, skill, and student satisfaction. Implementing this approach in educational settings can lead to significant benefits, creating a more engaging and interactive learning experience that improves academic outcomes and increases student motivation and enjoyment.