18 December 2024
Bilbao Campus
The University of Deusto has promoted an innovative educational methodology with the aim of encouraging clinical reasoning among students of the degree in Medicine. Specifically, a gymkhana-type activity has been implemented in the university's Virtual Hospital, designed for third-year students of Cardiology and Respiratory Pathology. This activity, which was carried out during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years, has had the participation of approximately 80 students for each course, and has been designed as a way of integrating theoretical and practical learning in an active and dynamic way.
The gymkhana is organized in such a way that students are divided into teams of 5 people, who must face a series of tests related to a clinical cardiology case. Each group is given the history and symptoms of a fictitious patient with a cardiac disease. From there, the students must analyze a series of clues related to the physical examination, the results of diagnostic tests (such as electrocardiograms, laboratory studies, holter, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, among others), and the available treatment options. This process simulates the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway that a patient would follow in real life.
The main objective of this methodology is to strengthen students' clinical competencies, promoting their ability to make decisions in complex medical situations. Throughout the gymkhana, students must explore different differential diagnoses and therapeutic options, which fosters their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. At the end of each test, the groups must defend their conclusions before the rest of the participants and the teacher, arguing what they consider to be the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
The methodology is oriented towards active learning, with the objective that students develop critical thinking skills and acquire practical competencies that will be useful in their future professional practice. In addition, the gymkhana seeks to motivate students by being an engaging and fun educational experience, which reinforces their commitment to learning.
The pedagogical framework that supports this innovation is the Training Model of the University of Deusto (MFUD), which promotes the integral development of students, stimulating their autonomous learning and enhancing their skills, values and competencies. This approach seeks not only to transmit knowledge, but also to foster attitudes and skills that are essential for professional medical practice.
As for the results, students have expressed high satisfaction with the experience through surveys, highlighting the usefulness of the activity in the development of their clinical reasoning and in strengthening their teamwork skills. The teachers and researchers involved in the practicum have also pointed out key aspects for its success, such as the need to have previous theoretical knowledge and the importance of carrying out the activity in a face-to-face manner. In addition, teachers have emphasized that the playful approach of the gymkhana encourages student engagement, promoting deeper and more meaningful learning.
The results of this experience were recently published in the Revista de Educación Médica, under the title "Gincana para el estudio de la Cardiología: un viaje lúdico hacia el aprendizaje significativo en el grado de Medicina".
