More than mere games: a review of card and board games for medical education

Abstract

During recent years, attempts have been made to complement more classical concepts of medical teaching by introducing card and board games on medical topics. These teaching tools cover every age and education group, and many different medical topics. In this article we have reviewed all card and board games for medical education purpose listed in NCBI PubMed database and Internet game databases (n = 29). It summarizes games that might be useful to medical teaching staff. To categorize these games, a new schema for medical games categorization, based on the game mechanism and theories on experiential learning circles, is proposed and discussed. Additionally we have a view on card and board games with medical topics for entertainment (n = 22).

Notes

Notes

1. http://sunsite.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/luding/

2. http://www.boardgamegeek.com/

3. http://wwwspotlightongames.com/

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Konrad Bochennek

KONRAD BOCHENNEK Medical doctor in paediatric haematology and oncology. Research projects on paedriatric stem cell transplantation, reconstitution of the immune system and immunotherapy. Investigator in clinical trial on neuroblastoma. Actually working in a research project on immunotherapy with natural killer cells against neuroblastoma. Medical game inventor. Author on medical history articles, co-author of “History of operative surgery”, 5 volumes (Kaden-Verlag, Germany, 2003-2005).

Boris Wittekindt

BORIS WITTEKINDT Medical doctor in paediatric haematology and oncology. Research on NMDA-receptors and neuronal interaction. Research project in medical education. Responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education at University Children Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Stefanie-Yvonne Zimmermann

STEFANIE-YVONNE ZIMMERMANN Medical doctor in paediatric haematology and oncology. Research projects on immunotherapy. Research coordination, game testing and review work-up.

Thomas Klingebiel

THOMAS KLINGEBIEL Professor of medicine, director of the clinic of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Children Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Chairman GPOH.