Targeted Educational Intervention Through Game-Based Learning to Promote Rational Antimicrobial Use Among Health Care Learners: Prospective Interventional Study

TL;DR

A game-based learning intervention improved healthcare learners' understanding of proper antibiotic use, potentially helping reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Contribution

A gamified educational tool was developed and tested to improve rational antimicrobial use among healthcare learners.

Findings

Participants' ability to distinguish bacterial and viral symptoms improved from 48% to 94%.

There was significant improvement in selecting appropriate empirical antimicrobials with correct dose, route, and duration.

The intervention enhanced adherence to antimicrobial use principles and awareness of AMR.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global problem. Training health care professionals in the rational use of antimicrobials is essential to curb AMR.

To support efforts to reduce antibiotic resistance, this study assesses how well a gamified educational intervention might improve health care professionals’ and students’ understanding and use of appropriate antibiotics.

This is a prospective interventional study conducted for clinical practitioners, undergraduates (MBBS and interns), postgraduates, and pharmacy students. A total of 60 participants were included in the study. Innovative games were administered to support the management of infections across multiple body systems, in accordance with the 2022 Indian Council of Medical Research treatment guidelines and the latest Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines, incorporating multiple instructional components. Pretest and posttest questionnaires were administered and evaluated.

After the intervention, participants’ ability to differentiate between bacterial and viral symptoms in respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis improved from 48% to 94%. The practice of selecting the appropriate empirical antimicrobial at the correct dose, route, and duration also demonstrated significant improvement, reflecting enhanced adherence to principles of rational antimicrobial use.

The gamified intervention successfully improved participants’ knowledge and awareness of rational antimicrobial use. Substantial improvements across all the assessed components highlight the positive impact of the intervention in promoting optimal antimicrobial use and curbing AMR. Innovative gamified interventions may foster better and longer-lasting awareness, supporting appropriate antimicrobial use.

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