title: Board game versus lecture-based seminar in the teaching of pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs--a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The effectiveness of an educational board game developed to teach the pharmacology of antimicrobial drugs to medical students was compared with the lecture-based seminar as a supplemental tool to improve short- and long-term knowledge retention and the perception of the learning method by students. A group of 124 students was randomized to board game and control groups. Short-term knowledge retention was assessed by comparing differences in post- and pre-tests scores, and long-term knowledge retention by comparing final examination scores. Both didactic methods seem to improve short-term knowledge retention to similar extent. Long-term knowledge retention of board game seminar participants was higher than those who attended the lecture-based seminar (ANCOVA, P = 0.035). The effect was most pronounced within 14 days after the intervention (ANOVA, P = 0.007). The board game was well perceived by the students. The board game seems to be a promising didactic tool, however, it should be further tested to assess its full educational utility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, Lodz 90-752, Poland michal.karbownik@umed.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Michał S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Karbownik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, Lodz 90-752, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiktorowska-Owczarek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, Lodz 90-752, Poland.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Allergy, Copernicus Memorial Hospital in Lodz, Pilsudskiego 71, Lodz 90-329, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kwarta
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego 22, Lodz 90-153, Poland.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Mokros
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego 22, Lodz 90-153, Poland.
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pietras
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D013664:Teaching Materials
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: antimicrobial drugs; basic medical pharmacology; board game; medical education