Feeling the flow with a serious game workshop: GridlockED as Medical Education 2 study (GAME2 study)

OBJECTIVE: GridlockED gameplay workshops were delivered in Canada. This project investigated workshop attendees' experiences, seeking to identify learning points to inform improvement of the workshop. METHODS: GridlockED sessions were held through 2018 and 2019. Workshops targeted medical trainees. After a standardized video, learners played for approximately 90 minutes. Learners completed a postgameplay survey with 7-point Likert scale questions about their experience. RESULTS: Seventy-two participants responded to our survey (41 medical students, 13 physician assistant students, 12 emergency medicine residents, and six faculty members). Trainees rated GridlockED as both enjoyable and a meaningful educational experience, with a mean (±SD) rating of 6.53 (±0.96) of 7 for enjoyment and 6.17 (±1.13) for education. Attendees identified teamwork and communication (49%) as the most helpful learning domain, with patient flow (43%) being second and basics of how the ED worked (31%) being third. The respondents self-identified top areas of learning as resource management (38.9%), improved understanding of various provider roles in the ED (33%), and improved communication skills (33%). CONCLUSION: Medical learners identified GridlockED to be an educational and enjoyable learning experience. Attendees reported that playing this serious game assisted with learning about health systems and communication.