medical Students Ace cardiology with Innovative ‘Gymkhana’ Learning
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Forget stuffy lectures and rote memorization. A groundbreaking approach to medical education at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain, is proving that learning cardiology can be both engaging and effective. Researchers have developed a unique “gymkhana”—a type of competitive game—that transforms the learning experience, yielding extraordinary results for students and fostering a stronger sense of teamwork.
The innovative program, a collaboration between the Department of Medicine at the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Medical and Health Education Unit at the Faculty of Engineering, was recently detailed in the journal Medical Education. The study, titled “Gymkhana for the study of Cardiology: a playful journey towards meaningful learning in the Medicine degree,” highlights the success of this unconventional teaching method.
“The medical education landscape has undergone a significant transformation in recent decades, moving towards more dynamic and participatory pedagogical approaches, moving away from the traditional teaching model,” the researchers explain in their introduction. Thay add, “Inspired by the concept of a gymkhana, this practice represents a challenge to test the integration of knowledge in Cardiology.”
Over 100 Students Participate in the Innovative Cardiology Program
The study involved 160 third-year medical students enrolled in the Cardiology-Pathology of the Respiratory System course during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. Divided into teams of five, students tackled a series of challenges within the virtual Hospital of the University of Deusto’s Faculty of Medicine.The curriculum covered key cardiology concepts, including arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, valvular diseases, ischemic heart disease, and diseases of the pericardium and aorta—topics previously covered through lectures, seminars, and workshops.
The students overwhelmingly approved of the gymkhana format, with most rating the various aspects of the program above 3.5 out of 5 in post-program surveys. This innovative approach not only improved knowledge retention but also fostered a collaborative learning surroundings, strengthening bonds among students.
This success story from Spain offers a compelling example for U.S.medical schools seeking to enhance their curricula and improve student engagement. The gamified approach could be easily adapted to various medical specialties, offering a fresh and effective way to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
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Medical School Gamifies Learning to Enhance Student Engagement
A groundbreaking approach to medical education is transforming how students learn and interact with complex medical concepts. By incorporating a game-like,interactive learning experience,a medical school is seeing significant improvements in student engagement and the advancement of crucial clinical skills.
The program, designed to simulate real-world scenarios, challenges students to navigate the complexities of diagnosing and treating heart disease. “The practice aims to guide students through the correct diagnostic and therapeutic path that a patient with heart disease would present in real life,” explains one of the program’s developers. This immersive experience goes beyond traditional lectures and textbooks, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
The interactive learning process culminates in a collaborative presentation. Each student group presents their approach to a simulated case, explaining their reasoning and decisions to their peers and instructors. This peer-to-peer learning environment encourages critical thinking and discussion, solidifying their understanding of the material.”At the end of the practice, each group explained to the rest of their classmates and to the teachers the reasons why he had taken each of the steps completed during his journey. The other students could ask questions about it,” a participant noted.
A “playful Approach” to mastering Medicine
This innovative program is designed to be implemented outside of the traditional classroom setting. “The practice seeks to actively involve students and is designed to be carried out outside the classroom,” a program administrator stated.The approach is described as “playful,” encouraging interaction and promoting deep learning through high levels of engagement. the program’s success is attributed to several key factors: a sense of importance and meaning in the tasks, autonomy in decision-making, academic challenge, collaborative debate, and the practical submission of theoretical knowledge.
“The gymkhana offers a multifaceted experience that enhances the development of critical skills and personal and professional growth,” the program developers summarize. They highlight the importance of “collaboration to contrast, debate and argue,” and the crucial link between theory and practice, emphasizing the need “to apply knowledge to specific situations.”
The positive impact on students is undeniable. “By participating in this complete experience,the students not only integrated fundamental medical knowledge but also developed essential skills for clinical practice,such as clinical reasoning,teamwork and effective communication,all in a fun and motivating way,” the developers conclude. The program’s adaptability is another key advantage; its simplicity allows for implementation in various university settings with minimal technological requirements. “the simplicity of the idea also allows its applicability in any university environment with common technology, without the need for large simulation resources.”
this innovative approach to medical education offers a compelling model for other institutions seeking to enhance student engagement and improve the quality of medical training in the United States and beyond.
Medical Students Ace Cardiology with innovative “Gymkhana”
Learning
A new approach to teaching cardiology at the university of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain, is making waves in
medical education.This innovative “gymkhana,” a type of interactive game,
is proving to be a highly effective way to engage students and enhance their understanding of complex
medical concepts.
A New way to Learn Cardiology
World Today News Senior Editor: Dr. Garcia,
thank you for joining us today. Can you tell us about this
innovative “gymkhana” and how it’s changing the
way students are learning cardiology?
Dr. Maria garcia, Professor of Cardiology, University of Deusto:
My pleasure. We’re very excited about the
results we’re seeing with this new approach. Traditionally,
cardiology has been taught through lectures
and textbooks, which can be quite dry and difficult for
students to engage with. The gymkhana takes a
completely different approach, transforming the learning experience into a
fun and interactive challenge.
Simulating Real-World Scenarios
World Today news Senior Editor: Could you explain how
the gymkhana works?
Dr. Maria Garcia: Essentially, we create a series of challenges within a virtual
hospital habitat. Students are divided into teams
and work together to diagnose and treat patients presenting with
various cardiac conditions. They have to apply
their knowledge of cardiology in a practical, real-world context.
Engaging Students and improving Knowledge
Retention
World Today News senior Editor: What kind of feedback
have you received
from the students about this new method?
Dr.Maria Garcia: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. students
find the gymkhana to be both enjoyable
and effective. They tell us it helps them remember
concepts better because they’re actively involved in the
learning process. The collaborative aspect is also
very crucial, as it encourages teamwork and
communication skills, which are essential for future doctors.
World Today News Senior Editor: Do you think this
approach could be
adapted to teach other medical specialties?
Dr. Maria Garcia: Absolutely. The gymkhana concept
is very versatile and can be easily adapted to any medical
specialty. It’s a powerful tool for making learning
more engaging and effective, and I believe it
has the potential to transform medical education as
we know it.
