OTHER GAMES
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OTHER GAMES
Why a game?
As the use of immunotherapy, (IO), and particularly checkpoint inhibitors, (ICIs), is increasing at an exponential rate. The ability of healthcare teams to support patients on ICIs is important. This is increasingly relevant across haemato-oncological services, including pan-tumour teams and acute oncology.
However, supporting staff to implement news ways of working is challenging. There is a need for engaging and effective educational resources, that address this subject.
The Immuno-Oncology Game is a game-based educational tool developed by Focus Games Ltd in partnership with Dr Anna Olsson-Brown and the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust.
It focuses on the recognition, investigation and management of immune related adverse events, (irAEs), secondary to checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
The game encourages players to discuss and answer a series of questions, allowing them to acquire knowledge and understanding, share ideas and learn from each other. Peer discussions are what helps players to enhance their learning.
Learning Outcomes
The Immuno-Oncology Game is intended to build awareness, knowledge and understanding among healthcare professional of IO. It demonstrates what IO is, and how it differs from other interventions. The game will help clinicians to develop an understanding of areas including:
- What is oncological immunotherapy
- Mechanisms of IO therapy
- Types of IO therapy
- What a patient journey looks like
- Potential long-term impact of IO and associated toxicity
- Episodic nature of toxicity
- Management of toxicity and how this is evolving
- Patient perception of risk and benefit
- Short/Long term response
- Personalised medication approach
The delivery of immunotherapy teaching is increasingly commonplace but none, as yet, use the medium of games. IO meetings provide an initial, established platform to deliver the game; whilst providing an educational resource that can go beyond the impact current teaching structures achieve.
As awareness of the game expands it could be used as a standalone educational tool across the NHS. IO is a complex field with multifaceted considerations. By playing this ‘serious’ game it will help to make the concepts accessible and expand knowledge to both oncological and non-oncological teams.
There is a complementary digital version of the game to consolidate the learning gained from the board game.
How to access the game?
Copies of the game are available free of charge to recognised organisations who work or support training and education in this area. To request a copy please use the contact form below.
Who created the game?
The game was developed by Focus Games Ltd in partnership with Dr Anna Olsson-Brown and the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
- Dr Olsson-Brown is a Medical Oncology registrar at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, and a MRC Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool. Throughout her clinical work she has been involved with the use of oncological immunotherapies, their uses and toxicities. Her PhD is based on understanding the immunological events, that occur in the presence of immunotherapy, that lead to toxicity.
- Focus Games Ltd is a leading developer of educational games that help raise awareness of specific issues and change behaviour. Since 2004, they have developed over 60 different games which address specific issues, and many of them are focussed on health and social care. The NHS is their biggest partner for developing and using games.
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