Gamifying Pharmacology Education: An Innovative VR Approach

Abstract ID 125903 Poster Board 026 Background: Although gamification has proven effective in improving student learning and engagement, there is limited information on the application of immersive virtual reality (VR) games in medical education, particularly in the pharmacology discipline. The purpose of our study was to determine the feasibility and impact of using an immersive VR game to improve pharmacology learning. Methods: An immersive VR game focused on neuropharmacology was developed using Kern's six-step framework. The game used matching tasks including drug cards to review knowledge on the mechanism of action and adverse effects of central nervous system drugs. Game elements such as progression levels, countdown timers, instant feedback, and an onboarding tutorial were incorporated. The game was developed with Enduvo software and experienced on an HTC Vive Pro head-mounted display. Second-year undergraduate medical students who had completed neuropharmacology curriculum at a US medical school were invited to participate in the study and their feedback was collected through an IRB-exempt survey. Results: A total of 14% of second-year undergraduate medical students participated in the study. All participants (100%) agreed that the VR game was more engaging than traditional learning, and their time was efficiently used in the gameplay. The majority of the participants (75%) agreed that the VR game was more interesting than traditional learning, and VR technology was easy to use. Additionally, all participants (100%) reported satisfaction with the VR game and expressed their willingness to recommend it to their peers. Conclusion: Our data suggests that the immersive VR game was an engaging learning tool, and it was well-received by the undergraduate medical students. This innovative educational approach seems feasible and shows promise in the effective review of complex pharmacology topics, opening avenues for further exploration and integration into medical education curricula. Dean's Award for Innovative Medical Student Education (UICOMP) and OSF Healthcare Foundation.