Challenge GP: using gamification to bring the reality and uncertainty of a duty doctor’s surgery to early year medical students

Exposing medical student cohorts to the lived reality of uncertainty and complexity experienced by GPs is challenging to achieve. We present a novel teaching concept: ‘Challenge GP’ designed for early years students. Gamification methodology is used to reproduce key elements of the ‘duty GP’ experience in a classroom setting where working in teams, students play a competitive card game. Cards drawn at random pose scenarios based on practical, logistical, and ethical dilemmas of a duty doctor surgery. Each team discusses whether to score by reporting a decision or play special cards to pass the dilemma onto, or collaborate with, another team. Answers are facilitated and scored by a GP tutor.