Game-based learning in undergraduate medical education: evaluation of an interdisciplinary escape room
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Educational escape rooms are an innovative pedagogical approach to encourage proactive learning among students. This study assessed the learning outcomes and student satisfaction with escape room-based teaching at a medical school in Germany. METHODS: An interdisciplinary escape room was created based on learning goals from the fields of psychiatry, infectious diseases, and communication skills. The gameplay was repeated eight times and pre-post intervention questionnaires were used to assess knowledge gain of participants. Pre- and post-test scores were analyzed using t-tests and correlation analyses to examine their relationships with gender, age, and semester. Evaluation feedback was summarized with descriptive statistics (mean, SD). Three open-text questions recorded qualitative comments, which were analyzed thematically. RESULTS: =3.45) fulfilled inclusion criteria. The mean post-test score (M = 71.71, SD = 5.03) was significantly higher (t = 8.65, p < .001) than the mean pre-test score (M = 65.07, SD = 5.29). Female students scored higher than male students in pre-tests (r = .306, p = .041) and post-tests (r = .440, p = .002). A higher semester of study correlated with higher pre-test scores (r = .536, p < .001) and higher post-test scores (r = .411, p = .006). Students rated the teaching method as "good" (M = 1.58; SD = 0.53) and "recommendable to peers" (M = 1.20; SD = 0.45), "fun to play" (M = 1.22; SD = 0.52), and "relevant for teaching" (M = 1.24; SD = 0.48). Students mentioned collaborative teamwork as the best characteristic of escape room teaching and suggested comprehensive briefing and debriefing sessions for improving future sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Escape room-based teaching resulted in significant knowledge gain. Female gender was associated with higher pre- and post-test knowledge. Students at later stages of their studies had higher pre-test knowledge. The escape room was well perceived by medical students and considered an enjoyable learning environment for medicine-related topics.
Source: BMC Medical Education
Authors: Franziska Baessler, Torben P.P. Hornung, Tom Johann Schuster, Nina Hardt, Emilia Felter, Elisabeth Anzenberger, Daniela Roesch Ely, Theresa Lichtenstein, Katharina Steiner, Katja Koelkebeck, Vera Flasbeck, Philipp Spitzer, Sven Speerforck, Severin Pinilla, Elham Khatamzas, Barbara Mueller, Ali Zafar
Institutions: University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Bielefeld University, University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum, LWL-Universitätsklinikum Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig University, University of Bern, University Hospital of Bern, Heidelberg University, German Center for Infection Research
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,990
Funder: Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
OpenAlex ID: W4416248146