Evaluating a digital serious game for learning medical terminology in a randomized controlled trial.

Kimiafar, Khalil; Mousavi Baigi, Seyyedeh Fatemeh; Sarbaz, Masoumeh; Sobhani-Rad, Davood; Darroudi, Ali; Marouzi, Parviz; Tabatabaei, Seyyed Mohammad; Khadem Rezaeian, Majid et al. · NPJ Digit Med · 2026

rct · Level II

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Abstract

Healthcare students often struggle with learning medical terminology due to its complexity and abstract nature. This randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of MedQuiz, a digital serious game, in enhancing immediate terminology acquisition and user satisfaction among 60 undergraduate students in health-related programs. Participants were assigned to either a control group with traditional instruction or an intervention group using MedQuiz alongside lectures. Post-test scores were significantly higher in the intervention group (P < .001), and user experience predicted performance. Usability metrics (SUS = 90.36%) and playability ratings indicated strong engagement. The MEEGA+ (Metrics for Educational Game Assessment + ) framework showed positive perceptions of usability and learning, while entertainment value was moderate. Findings support MedQuiz as a scalable and engaging tool for short-term medical terminology learning. Long-term retention was not assessed. Further studies should examine delayed learning outcomes and explore integration with artificial intelligence-based spaced repetition systems for sustained knowledge acquisition.