JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The quality and effectiveness of healthcare service delivery are significantly influenced by the engagement and motivation of healthcare workers. Integrating gamified digital tools into healthcare workers’ workflows presents a promising approach to enhancing them. However, the impact of such integrations has not been extensively studied.

Objective:

This scoping review aims to summarize existing evidence on the influence of gamified digital tools on the daily tasks of healthcare workers.

Methods:

Peer review studies and grey literature published between January 2010 and January 2024 in PubMed, EMBASE, International Journal of Serious Games, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, OpenAlex, GreyNet, and IEEE Xplore have been reviewed through a SPIDER (Sample, Phenomena of Interest, Design, Evaluation, and Research Type) framework. We considered any kind of study design. Keywords and medical subject headings related to gamification and healthcare workers were used. Study characteristics were extracted and summarized using a narrative approach.

Results:

Out of 5,844 studies, 12 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. These studies exhibited considerable heterogeneity in the application of gamification. Feedback, competition, and dashboard features were the most common gamification elements identified. The implementation of these elements led to enhanced engagement, increased motivation, improved task completion, and promoted healthy competition among staff across various healthcare settings.

Conclusions:

Integrating gamified digital tools into healthcare workers’ tasks holds significant potential to enhance engagement and motivation. However, empirical evidence is still lacking, and comparative studies are necessary to gain comprehensive insights into the benefits and limitations of gamification in healthcare.