title: Effectiveness of a serious game for medical education on insulin therapy: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report the preliminary assessment of InsuOnline©, a serious game designed for medical education on insulin therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a pilot study with 41 undergraduate medical students and Internal Medicine residents to assess the educational effectiveness of InsuOnline©, as compared to a traditional educational activity (lecture, cases discussion). Knowledge, skills and beliefs on insulin therapy were evaluated by a questionnaire applied before, immediately after, and 3 months after both interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean knowledge/skills score was improved from 68% to 89% in traditional education group (n = 23; p < 0.001), and from 61% to 90% in game group (n = 18; p < 0.001). After 3 months, mean score decreased (to 80% in traditional education group, and to 78% in game group; p < 0.001 for both) but remained significantly higher than at baseline in both groups (p < 0.001 for both). Although mean score was lower in game group than in traditional education group at baseline (p = 0.04), no difference remained between groups either immediately or 3 months post-intervention. Score increment was better with the game (29%) than with traditional education (21%; p = 0.04). Beliefs improved in the game group only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  InsuOnline© is at least as effective as a traditional educational activity for medical education on insulin therapy, and it can a good option for large-scale continuing medical education on diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Leandro A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.affiliation: Centro de Educação e Pesquisa, Hospital do Coração, Londrina, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Pedro A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gordan
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Roberto Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.affiliation: Complexo Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Izabel C M M
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018910:Video Games; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin