Crossword puzzle as a learning tool to enhance learning about anticoagulant therapeutics

Abstract

Background Educational games make the learning process more enjoyable, fun, and create a competitive classroom environment that can positively affect learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pharmacy students’ perceptions of crossword puzzles (CWPs) as a learning tool in the pharmacotherapy cardiovascular module focusing on anticoagulants’ therapeutics and assessing if students’ preference of learning style influenced their perception. Methods Clues for the puzzle were developed, validated, and piloted by course faculty. A free internet puzzle generator was used to create puzzles with 10 to 20 clues. Students were given 30 min to solve the puzzle following six hours of didactic lectures about the topic. An 8-item survey instrument and Pharmacists’ Inventory of Learning Styles (PILS) questionnaire were administered to examine students’ perceptions of the game and their learning style preference, respectively. Results Two hundred sixty-seven students participated in the activity from both undergraduate programs (BPharm and PharmD) over three consecutive course offerings. Most students expressed favorable perceptions of the puzzle. Female and BPharm students had significantly more favorable perceptions than male and PharmD students on several perception items. The dominant preferred learning style (PLS) was converger (35.6%), followed by assimilator (25.3%), while 15.1% had mixed learning styles. The study did not find a significant association between PLS and students’ perceptions toward the CWP. Conclusions The CWP game presented an innovative, creative, and easy active learning tool to enhance information recall, retention, and class engagement while accommodating all learning style preferences.

“METAPAD” (METAbolic PAthways Decoded) – a gaming innovation to ease the complexity of metabolic pathways by promoting self-directed, active, participatory learning in small groups

“…In the present study there was no significant relationship between gender and perception towards METAPAD gaming puzzle. While there was a significant difference reported among males and females in the study that used the same survey instrument by Ghada Bawazeer et al [ 14 ], towards the question that assessed the perceptions on the length of time provided for solving puzzles. Male students did not show much satisfaction towards the time allocated to solve the puzzle in their study.…”

“…The same study evaluating the association between different learning styles and perceptions of crossword puzzles in pharmacology reported no significant difference among the two [ 14 ]. In contrast, the current study’s results highlight the importance of considering the match between learning styles and instructional approaches when incorporating innovative educational tools like the METAPAD gaming puzzle.…”

“…The second survey was administered to evaluate the perceptions of METAPAD gaming puzzle as an effective study tool. The study participants were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of 21-items on a 5-point Likert scale (Strongly Agree/Agree/Neither agree nor disagree/Disagree/Strongly disagree), adopted from Ghada Bawazeer et al [ 14 ] and modified to assess their perception on the usefulness of the gaming based learning approach along with the integration of clinical case scenarios for understanding the complexity of metabolic pathways in biochemistry. The reliability of the tool was analysed by using Spearman’s brown prophecy formula (r) = 0.993.…”

Use of PDSA Cycles to Increase Aspiration Risk and Swallow Screening Documentation in the Hospitalized General Medical Patient Care Population

“…Unfortunately, the sole strategy of online education did not result in an increase in MBSS result documentation compliance, rather the chart review showed a decrease in compliance. Some researchers suggest that PowerPoint presentations can oversimplify a complex process leading these authors to believe the EHR screen logic of the MBSS process may have been too difficult to replicate in a single-learning modality without opportunities for interaction between learner and trainer 24. Despite 100% return of the crossword puzzle in the first PDSA cycle, demonstrating its ability to engage staff,18 the overall results showed a modest increase for the MBSS result documentation.…”

“…Some researchers suggest that PowerPoint presentations can oversimplify a complex process leading these authors to believe the EHR screen logic of the MBSS process may have been too difficult to replicate in a single-learning modality without opportunities for interaction between learner and trainer. 24 Despite 100% return of the crossword puzzle in the first PDSA cycle, demonstrating its ability to engage staff, 18 the overall results showed a modest increase for the MBSS result documentation. However, the risk factor documentation did increase, which could possibly be the result of this strategy being effective for recalling information and not application of that information as needed in the branching logic seen in the EHR screening form.…”