Gamification in Teaching Electrocardiogram Interpretation and Cardiac Arrhythmias for Nurses

Abstract

Objective: To report on the experience of implementing a gamified strategy for teaching electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation and cardiac arrhythmias to nursing students in a postgraduate course in cardiology and hemodynamics. Method: Experience report prepared by teachers involved in the construction and application of a gamified activity based on a digital game. The experience was organized
into three stages: (1) game design and planning, (2) execution of the activity with students, and (3) debriefing after the experience. Results: The team was composed of professors from the graduate program. The group developed a computer game whose questions were linked to the content of courses related to ECG interpretation and arrhythmias. The activity was applied to 21 students, and at the end, a collective discussion was held to further explore the points addressed during the game. Conclusion: The gamified proposal encouraged student engagement and increased their participation in the learning process, in addition to facilitating the understanding of content related to ECG analysis and interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias through a playful approach. The experience reinforces the
potential of gamification as an active methodology to improve teaching and stimulate new pedagogical practices.