Mobile games have become big business for app developers. One look through the Apple or Android app stores will convince you of this fact. There are literally thousands of games available for download. Apple recently updated their Apple TV to app developers along with a new remote that better enables game play. Just watch Sunday football and you can’t avoid the many commercials for video games for your PlayStation or Xbox.

What about the use of serious games in medicine? Back in 2012 we reviewed Ward Round as one of a growing industry of games for medical providers. Apps such as Ward Round use game play features to entertain, motivate and sustain the attention of players. The goal is to make learning fun. For most licensed physicians, we are most concerned about board certification. Prior to board certification, medical students and residents must first survive rotation shelf exams, Step I/II/III licensing exams, and yearly in-training exams. All of these tests cost a significant amount of money and create anxiety. Therefore, anything that could make this fun is appealing.

Previously on iMedicalApps we reviewed a number of apps for exam preparation including NEJM Family Medicine, AAEM Flash Cards, Pretest Pediatrics and Pediatric Quiz. The options are nearly limitless, but few have been studied or proven to improve success on the certification exam.

Let’s take a fresh look at Ward Round.

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Video Review


 

The app was developed by Dr Adrian Raudaschl, a recent medical graduate from the Glasgow Medical School in the UK. The scenarios and questions are written by Dr Raudaschl with verification of content by unnamed senior medical specialists. The latest version of the game is by the On Call Team whereas the prior version was by Guerilla Tea. The purpose of the game is to improve provider knowledge in internal medicine through the use of a Jeopardy-like game experience.

When you first open the app you choose if you want to play games in one of nine various medical specialties (cardiology, endocrinology, etc.) or play the game at random. The app contains over 160 scenarios with roughly five questions per scenario. The app also allows you to track your scores and see how far you have progressed in each subspecialty. Once you choose a scenario the app guides you through the case and the accompanying questions. The unique feature of Ward Round is that you are timed. The app only gives you so many seconds to answer each question. This timer really does turn up the heat as you work your way through cases.

After each scenario you can review the questions and answers along with the reference before progressing to the next scenario. This section is not timed allowing you as much time as you want to review the answers. After completing the scenario the app summaries your performance and allows you to move on to another scenario or change to a different specialty. The current version of the app no longer contains the “Big Medical Quiz” which permitted an online game with other users with results posted to Facebook. Not sure if this was a result of technical or legal issues or simply from the change of developer.

Evidence based medicine

Ward Round contains over 160 evidence based scenarios with over 500 questions. Each question/answer is provided with a quality reference from recent journal articles or guidelines. The issue will become keeping the content fresh and up to date over time.

What providers would benefit from this App?

Students, primary care and internal medicine residents, mid-levels, any staff provider who is interested in challenging their medical knowledge via a game like experience.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

  • Price
    • $3.99
    • Fun, interactive, high pressure thanks to the timed questions with over 500 total questions.
    • Questions are challenging for both residents and junior faculty.
    • Ability to play game randomly or by specialty with score tracking.
    • References given for every question/answer.
  • Dislikes
    • Price may be too steep for some.
    • Clearly has limited number of “plays” due to limited content.
    • Some will either love or hate the timing function.
    • Not available for Android.
  • Overall

    Ward Round is a fun review tool that covers many topics in a variety of medicine and medicine sub-specialties. The app will appeal especially to medical students and residents looking for a fun way to review for shelf and board exams.

  • Overall Score
  • User Interface

    Easy to use interface with a high pressure timing function that may not appeal to everyone.

  • Multimedia Usage

    App contains references for every question/answer, but no ability to link out to the references from within the app. Unclear if app content can/will be updated over time.

  • Price

    App is $3.99 which may be too steep for some students/residents based on limited game play.

  • Real World Applicability

    This is fun app for providers who want to challenge themselves with a game like interface. The material is challenging and with over 500 questions available it will provide many hours of game play.

  • Device Used For Review

    iPhone 6S running iOS 9.1.

  • Available for DownloadiPhoneiPad