Gamifying Emergency Response: A Board Game for Training Teams in Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm Management

Background : Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAA) represent a critical emergency with persistently high mortality rates, despite medical advances. Effective team training is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes. Methods : This study describes the development and implementation of a gamified board game designed to train emergency teams in RAAA management. It recreates realistic clinical situations, fostering both technical and non-technical skills in a safe and interactive setting. Its effectiveness was assessed through participant feedback and performance data. Results : Between January 2022 and December 2024, 20 sessions were conducted, with 162 participants. Surveys were completed by 84.57% of them. According to the survey’s results, 68 nurses (49.64%), 26 anaesthesiologists (18.98%), 36 vascular surgeons (26.28%), and seven porters (5.11%). Most had over three years of experience. Participants included 63.5% women, with age groups ranging from 20 to over 60 years. The 40–50 age group showed the best performance in RAAA scenarios. Medical professionals tended to rate their confidence and experience lower than non-medical staff, with statistically significant differences in confidence (p = 0.0008) and experience (p = 0.005). Repeated participation (n = 31) demonstrated consistent improvement. Overall, the training led to significant improvements in participants’ self-assessed competence and team coordination throughout the training sessions as well as in overall role performance. The findings can help the design of future training programs, emphasising the importance of simulation-based learning. Conclusions : The gamified board game proved to be an effective, engaging, and cost-efficient training tool for RAAA management. It complements traditional simulation methods and supports the integration of serious games into emergency training programs. The results highlight the value of structured debriefing and observer feedback, suggesting that such tools can significantly improve preparedness and non-technical skills, ultimately benefiting patient outcomes.