Pilot evaluation of an electronic game developed to teach medication history taking to pharmacy students

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to evaluate a novel electronic medication reconciliation game for teaching medication history taking. Method: Sixty-six final year Master of Pharmacy students used the eMedRec game during nine weekly tutorials throughout semester two in addition to problem-based learning cases. The authors compared the change in self-perceived confidence and competence surveys in semester two to usual teaching in semester one. Game usability was evaluated using survey the System Usability Scale (SUS) after game exposure. Results: Difference in student self-perceived confidence after game exposure were comparable to those observed in semester one (difference in mean change -0.31 (-0.72 - 0.08)) while there was a significant increase in self-perceived competence following game exposure compared to usual teaching (difference in mean change 1.2 (0.66 - 1.80)). The game had a SUS score of 48.5/100. Conclusions: The eMedRec scored moderately on the SUS and increased student self-perceived competence greater than that observed during usual teaching alone.