Innovating Residency Orientation Training. A Multi-Modal, Gamified Approach to Clinical Onboarding at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico

Journal title EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN LEARNING AND TEACHING
Author/s Claudio Pensieri, Sabrina Saccoccia, Rosanna Alloni
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2025/2
Language English Pages 20 P. 69-88 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/exioa2-2025oa21749
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<p>This study assesses the effectiveness of “Resident Day,” a multi-modal orientation program at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico for newly enrolled medical residents. The program combines traditional lectures, experiential simulations, and gamified activities, including a hospital-based treasure hunt designed to bridge theoretical knowledge and practical clinical readiness. A comparative analysis of pre- and post-training surveys from the 2022 (n. 146 respondents) and 2024 (n. 135 respondents) cohorts revealed statistically significant improvements in technical competencies, spatial orientation, and familiarity with clinical workflows. Notably, the gamification element, particularly the “Treasure Hunt,” significantly enhanced spatial orientation and clinical area familiarity, with 2024 participants showing greater improvement compared to 2022. While practical sessions received strong evaluations, the team-building activity (“Airplane Challenge”) scored lower than in previous years, suggesting areas for refinement. Overall, the Resident Day initiative demonstrates that innovative, engaging onboarding strategies can effectively enhance early clinical integration, technical skills, and resident confidence. Experiential learning and gamification emerged as particularly impactful, underlining the value of active, hands-on methodologies in bridging the gap between academic training and real-world medical practice. These findings may inform broader reforms in medical education and orientation programs internationally.</p>

Keywords: Resident Orientation;Medical Education;Gamification;Clinical Training;Experiential Learning

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Claudio Pensieri, Sabrina Saccoccia, Rosanna Alloni, Innovating Residency Orientation Training. A Multi-Modal, Gamified Approach to Clinical Onboarding at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico in "EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN LEARNING AND TEACHING" 2/2025, pp 69-88, DOI: 10.3280/exioa2-2025oa21749