Daily Double! Assessing the Effectiveness of Game-Based Learning on the Pharmacy Knowledge of US Coast Guard Health Services Technicians.

BACKGROUND

US Coast Guard (USCG) corpsmen or health services technicians (HSs) serve in various medical support roles in USCG clinics and sick bays. To expand their medical knowledge, HSs complete formal and informal trainings and courses. USCG pharmacists routinely provide HSs with training designed to improve pharmacy knowledge. This study sought to describe the effectiveness of game-based learning on the pharmacy knowledge retention of HSs at 3 USCG clinics.

METHODS

In 2024, 28 HSs at 3 USCG clinics were provided a preintervention assessment consisting of 25 questions, completed a Jeopardy! style game-based activity, and completed the same assessment postintervention.

RESULTS

The mean preintervention score for the 25-question assessment was 15.1 (median, 15.0; mode, 10.0). Mean score increased to 17.4 (median, 17.5; mode, 24.0) postintervention. Formalized pharmacy training and more years of experience as an HS resulted in higher preintervention assessment scores compared with no formalized pharmacy training and fewer years of experience as an HS.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to traditional slide-based trainings, game-based learning can create engaging learning environments that support knowledge retention of pharmacy and other medical topics for USCG corpsmen.