The Gaming for Medical Education Research (G4MER) Program

NCT ID: NCT03666468

Last Updated: 2019-07-31

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

264 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-07-03

Study Completion Date

2022-04-30

Brief Summary

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The "G4MER" Program aims to investigate whether serious games add value to medical education in comparison to an online learning package or clinical practice guidelines. The investigators will perform a series of investigator-blinded randomised control trials on doctors, nurses, and medical students at Sydney Children's Hospital. Participants will be given access to their randomly allocated intervention for 8 weeks or 5 days, and will be assessed using multiple choice questions (MCQ) and two observed structure clinical examination (OSCE) stations. Participant attitudes will also be assessed through a mixed-methods questionnaire.

Detailed Description

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The "G4MER" Program aims to perform a series of randomised control trials on different groups at Sydney Children's Hospital:

1. Study 1A (Formerly titled "Serious Games in Medical Education - a Randomised Control Trial") is already underway and involves Phase 3 medical students at UNSW having 8 weeks access to the game, an Online Package (OP) or NSW State Guidelines on Asthma and Seizure management. Students are then assessed using multiple choice questions (MCQ) and two observed structure clinical examination (OSCE) stations (detailed below).
2. Study 1B is also a randomised control trial similar in design to Study 1A, however it will involve doctors and nurses employed at Sydney Children's Hospital. PlayMed will be compared against the HETI Learning Path Paediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines (Online Package for staff).
3. Studies 2A and 2B are identical to Studies 1A and 1B respectively except participants will have 2 hours access to their educational tool. Participants will then immediately undergo the same assessment using multiple choice questions (MCQ) and two observed structure clinical examination (OSCE) stations The proposed study designs are all blinded randomised control trials. Participants may only be involved in Study 1 or Study 2, not both.

Administration

Studies 1A and 1B Participants allocated to the game and to the OP will be given the appropriate access for 8 weeks (instructions provided in the study envelope). Participants allocated to the guidelines will receive a print-out of the guidelines. Participants will be encouraged to engage with their additional educational tool as often as they wish during their eight weeks. In the 8th last week participants will have their knowledge and clinical performance assessed as outlined below.

Studies 2A and 2B Participants allocated to the game, OP and guidelines will be given 2 hours to utilise their assigned teaching tool. Two hours was selected as an appropriate time-frame in which participants would be able complete all cases of the game or online package, or read through the guidelines. Furthermore, it was chosen as it is more pragmatic and better at assessing short-term retention. Computers will be provided for participants to access the game and OP. The guidelines will be printed for participants to read. Participants will then immediately have their knowledge and clinical performance assess as outlined below.

Assessment

Studies 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B Participants will be assessed for knowledge acquisition and clinical performance. Participant knowledge will be assessed using 10 multiple choice questions (MCQ). Participant clinical skills will be assessed via an observed structured clinical examination (OSCE) administered in the simulation laboratory (immediately after the knowledge test); participants will be tested across two clinical scenarios. Strict marking criteria will be used to ensure standardisation.

Conditions

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Education, Medical

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

3 groups
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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PlayMed

PlayMed, a highly immersive role-playing computer game

\- Focus on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

PlayMed

Intervention Type OTHER

A highly immersive role-playing computer game focused on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Online Package (OP)

Online package (OP) of NSW Health Guidelines

\- Focus on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Online Package

Intervention Type OTHER

Online package (OP) of NSW Health Guidelines focused on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Paper Guidelines

Paper NSW Health Guidelines

\- Focus on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Paper Guidelines

Intervention Type OTHER

Paper NSW Health Guideline focused on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Interventions

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PlayMed

A highly immersive role-playing computer game focused on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Intervention Type OTHER

Online Package

Online package (OP) of NSW Health Guidelines focused on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Intervention Type OTHER

Paper Guidelines

Paper NSW Health Guideline focused on Paediatric Asthma and Seizure management

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Studies 1A and 2A Phase 2 or 3 medical students at UNSW who are enrolled in the Children's Health Course will be eligible
* Studies 1B and 2B Doctors and nurses employed at Sydney Children's Hospital.

Exclusion Criteria

* Studies 1A and 2A Medical students not actively enrolled at UNSW
* Studies 1B and 2B Doctors and nurses not actively employed at Sydney Children's Hospital.
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

99 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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The University of New South Wales

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr Michael Coffey

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Michael J Coffey, BMed MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of New South Wales

Locations

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Sydney Children's Hospital

Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Australia

Central Contacts

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Michael J Coffey, BMed MD

Role: CONTACT

011 61 2 9382 5574

Penelope Uther, MBBS DipPaed

Role: CONTACT

011 61 2 9382 5560

Facility Contacts

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Michael J Coffey

Role: primary

011 61 2 9382 5574

Penelope Uther

Role: backup

011 61 2 9382 5560

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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HC17160-LNR/17/SCHN/194

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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