Get Your Game Face On: Utilizing Alternative Forms of Patient Education for Cardiac Care – A Pilot Study

Abstract

To respond to the local cardiovascular health literacy need through means of alternative forms of education utilizing serious games. A quality improvement project design utilizing pretest–posttest with in-depth literature review. A Cardiovascular (CV) BINGO game was developed, implemented, and analyzed for efficacy. Focus group participants (n = 10) were asked to recommend or advise against implementation of the serious game, then pilot study participants (n = 7) were asked to complete a five question Likert-scale survey along with one fill-in-the-blank action plan goal pre- and postgame implementation. Comparison between pretest and posttest surveys revealed an improved participant-perceived understanding and completion of personal action plans postimplementation. Overall, participants and instructors voiced satisfaction and lobbied for future use of this education tool. Literature supports the efficacy of serious games in knowledge and outcome improvement. The CV Bingo game applies alternative forms of education to establish deeper understanding of the material, spark health consumer interest, and open dialogue barriers. Application of serious games can be applied to any chronic disease process. The goal for the dissemination of this pilot study is to introduce new educational concepts and encourage fellow clinicians to utilize alternative forms of patient education.