The Benefits of Playing a Disease Game for Health Education
Imagine you are in a doctor’s office, waiting for your appointment. Your mind races with concerns about your health and the possible diagnosis. Suddenly, a nurse hands you a small box filled with cards and dice. You start to play a game that imitates the decision-making process involved in managing a disease, from treatment choices to lifestyle adjustments. This is known as a disease game, and its use in health education can bring about remarkable benefits.
Introduction
Disease games are an innovative approach to healthcare education that offers a fun and exciting way to learn complex medical concepts. Unlike boring lectures, disease games are interactive and engaging, allowing players to apply their knowledge in simulated real-life situations.
The Science Behind the Game
Disease games aim to teach players how to make complex medical decisions based on the available evidence. They emulate the chaos and unpredictability of real-world medical care, where patients’ conditions are sometimes complex and multifaceted.
In disease games, players navigate the challenges of treating patients with ailments that range from colds to cancer. The games are structured in a way that helps players understand the scientific evidence underlying different treatments, while also providing them with a deeper understanding of the human body and how it works.
Benefits of Game-Based Learning in Healthcare
Disease games offer several benefits over traditional lecture-based learning when it comes to health education. For one, they provide an immersive and interactive learning experience, making it easier to grasp complex medical concepts. They also help players to understand how medical decisions are made, the role that medical history and personal values play, and how to assess risks and benefits before making a decision.
Another important benefit of disease games is that they offer a safe, controlled environment to practice decision-making and other skills. Players can experiment with different treatment options, and see the consequences of their decisions before actually treating real patients. Disease games can also help players to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential in the medical profession.
Examples of Successful Disease Games Used in Healthcare Education
One example of a successful disease game used in healthcare education is the Re-Mission 2 series of games. Developed by the HopeLab Foundation, these games are designed for young adults with cancer. They provide players with a simulated cancer treatment experience, from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship. Another excellent example of a disease game is Pox: The Life and Death of Smallpox, a game developed by the New York Public Library in partnership with Killer Flu author CJ Peters. Pox immerses players in the history and epidemiology of smallpox, teaching them how pandemics spread and how disease containment efforts can be implemented to stop their spread.
Conclusion
Disease games are an innovative approach to healthcare education that can help students and healthcare professionals to learn complex medical concepts in an engaging and interactive way. They offer a safe and controlled environment to practice decision-making and problem-solving skills, and can help develop critical thinking skills essential in the medical profession. With successful examples like Re-Mission 2 and Pox to learn from, it’s clear that disease games have a vital role to play in healthcare education.
