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Abstract

Purpose- This article examined the post-game debriefing of a student-created board game on the topic of malaria, taken from UNICEF and other international agencies’ Facts for Life.

Design/Methodology/Approach- A group of university health students participated in the play of the game and the debriefing. Initial debriefing of seven steps(key themes) occurred through written format, followed by an oral debriefing.

Findings – Major categories from the written debriefing by steps, key category response, and number of categories were as follows: For experience recall – how to prevent malaria, nine response categories; for feelings – felt informed, felt happy, nine response categories; for enjoyment – learned new information, game was fun, 11 response categories; for importance – malaria prevention, 12 response categories; for new information learned – malaria affects pregnancy, 10 response categories; for new information to learn – multiple topics such as strategies to prevent malaria, 13 response categories; for improvements as suggestions – add more questions, nine response categories. Follow up oral debriefing supported the written debriefing categories, as well as yielding some additional categories. The students suggested at least 70 response categories after the play of the game.

Conclusion- This study demonstrates the applicability of a student created and played board game based on the Facts for Life topic of malaria, as a vehicle for health topic discussion. A combined written and oral debriefing approach complimented each other in an educational gaming strategy.

Recommendations – Game debriefing is a valuable and essential tool to be included in a health educational gaming strategy. The use of this malaria game should be extended for play in other non-formal settings.

Key words: Malaria, board-game, written debriefing, oral debriefing, student created games, public health education, health education

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