Effectiveness of a game-based educational strategy e-EDUCAGUIA for implementing antimicrobial clinical practice guidelines in family medicine residents in Spain: a randomized clinical trial by cluster
Authors: del Cura-González Isabel , Ariza-Cardiel Gloria , Polentinos-Castro Elena , López-Rodríguez Juan A. , Sanz-Cuesta Teresa , Barrio-Cortes Jaime , Andreu-Ivorra Blanca , Rodríguez-Barrientos Ricardo , Ávila-Tomas José F. , Gallego-Ruiz-de-Elvira Elisa , Lozano-Hernández Cristina , Martín-Fernández Jesús ,   Educaguia Group, García-Franco Alberto López , Azcoaga-Lorenzo Amaya , Menéndez-Asenjo Angel Alberquilla , Barral Araceli Garrido , Moreno Aurora Fernández , Bustillo Beatriz Medina , Crespo Begoña Román , Weismann Elisa Ceresuela , Barba Emilio Cervera , Sánchez Jesús Redondo , Molero-García José M. , Almeida Lizzy Paola Cisneros , Perruca Luis Sánchez , Ballesteros Luisa María Cabello , Pérez Paloma Casado , Del Álamo Rodríguez Manuel , Monje María Teresa Rodríguez , Montalvo Mariel Morey , del Pozo Marta Sánchez-Celaya , Blázquez Milagros Rico , Olmos Luis García , Ferrer-Peña Raul , Nido Rocío Álvarez , Fuertes Rosario Riesgo , Fernández Silvia Pulido , Elustondo Sofía Garrido , Hernández-Santiago Virginia 
Published: December 2022

Background

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have teaching potential for health professionals in training clinical reasoning and decision-making, although their use is limited. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a game-based educational strategy e-EDUCAGUIA using simulated clinical scenarios to implement an antimicrobial therapy GPC compared to the usual dissemination strategies to improve the knowledge and skills on decision-making of family medicine residents. Additionally, adherence to e-EDUCAGUIA strategy was assessed.

Methods

A multicentre pragmatic cluster-randomized clinical trial was conducted involving seven Teaching Units (TUs) of family medicine in Spain. TUs were randomly allocated to implement an antimicrobial therapy guideline with e-EDUCAGUIA strategy ( intervention) or passive dissemination of the guideline (control). The primary outcome was the differences in means between groups in the score test evaluated knowledge and skills on decision-making at 1 month post intervention. Analysis was made by intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. Secondary outcomes were the differences in mean change intrasubject (from the baseline to the 1-month) in the test score, and educational game adherence and usability. Factors associated were analysed using general linear models. Standard errors were constructed using robust methods.

Results

Two hundred two family medicine residents participated (104 intervention group vs 98 control group). 100 medicine residents performed the post-test at 1 month (45 intervention group vs 55 control group), The between-group difference for the mean test score at 1 month was 11 ( 8.67 to 13.32) and between change intrasubject was 11,9 ( 95% CI 5,9 to 17,9). The effect sizes were 0.88 and 0.75 respectively. In multivariate analysis, for each additional evidence-based medicine training hour there was an increase of 0.28 points (95% CI 0.15–0.42) in primary outcome and in the change intrasubject each year of increase in age was associated with an improvement of 0.37 points and being a woman was associated with a 6.10-point reduction. 48 of the 104 subjects in the intervention group (46.2%, 95% CI: 36.5–55.8%) used the games during the month of the study. Only a greater number of evidence-based medicine training hours was associated with greater adherence to the educational game ( OR 1.11; CI 95% 1.02–1.21).

Conclusions

The game-based educational strategy e-EDUCAGUIA shows positive effects on the knowledge and skills on decision making about antimicrobial therapy for clinical decision-making in family medicin residents in the short term, but the dropout was high and results should be interpreted with caution. Adherence to educational games in the absence of specific incentives is moderate.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02210442. Registered 6 August 2014.