Doctors need to understand how the environment, climate, and society affect human health—a field called Planetary Health. But medical schools struggle to teach this because curriculums are already packed and teachers aren’t familiar with the topic. Researchers created ePlanet, a free online game and learning program that teaches medical students about these connections through real-world scenarios about clean air, healthy food, disease prevention, and climate impacts. The game is available in multiple languages and doesn’t require schools to completely redesign their courses. Early testing shows that games can be an effective way to introduce these important health topics to future doctors.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether an online educational game could help medical students learn about Planetary Health—the connections between environmental changes, society, and human health.
  • Who participated: The research describes the development and pilot testing of ePlanet with medical students and educators, though specific participant numbers aren’t detailed in the abstract.
  • Key finding: Serious gaming (educational games) can effectively introduce Planetary Health concepts to medical students. The ePlanet game successfully engaged students with real-life scenarios about sustainable healthcare, nutrition, air pollution, heat, and infectious diseases.
  • What it means for you: If you’re a medical student or educator, this suggests that interactive games might be a better way to learn about how environmental and social factors affect health. The free, open-access format means anyone worldwide can use it without cost, though more research is needed to measure long-term learning outcomes.

The Research Details

The ePlanet project created a comprehensive educational platform combining two teaching approaches: serious gaming (educational video games) and challenge-based learning (real-world problem-solving exercises). The researchers developed modular materials that can be used independently or together, making them flexible for different medical schools with different curriculum structures. They also created teaching guides to help educators understand how to use the materials effectively. The game was made freely available online in both English and Spanish to reach a global audience.

The project addressed a real problem in medical education: Planetary Health is increasingly important, but medical schools struggle to add it to already-full curriculums, and many teachers don’t feel confident teaching it. By creating a game-based approach with supporting materials, the researchers aimed to make it easier for schools to incorporate these topics without major restructuring.

Pilot testing was conducted to see if the serious gaming approach actually worked for teaching these concepts. The researchers plan to continue improving the materials and integrate them into digital learning platforms used by medical schools worldwide.

This research matters because climate change, pollution, and social inequality are increasingly affecting human health, but medical students often graduate without understanding these connections. By developing an accessible, engaging tool, the researchers are trying to fill this gap in medical education. Using games makes learning more interactive and memorable than traditional lectures, which may help students better understand complex systems.

This is a research article describing the development and pilot testing of an educational tool. The strength of this work is that it addresses a real educational need and provides free, open-access materials that anyone can use. However, the abstract doesn’t provide detailed information about how many students were tested, what specific outcomes were measured, or how much the game actually improved learning compared to traditional teaching methods. More detailed results would help readers understand the effectiveness of this approach.

What the Results Show

The ePlanet project successfully created an online serious game that engages medical students with real-world scenarios related to Planetary Health. The game covers four main topic areas: sustainable healthcare practices, nutrition and food systems, air pollution and its health effects, and heat-related health impacts, plus infectious diseases. The game is freely available in English and Spanish, making it accessible to medical students and educators around the world.

Beyond the game itself, the researchers developed complementary learning modules that teach important skills like systems thinking (understanding how different parts of health and environment connect), advocacy (speaking up for health improvements), sustainability (making choices that don’t harm the environment), and health equity (ensuring everyone has access to good health). These modules work alongside the game to develop well-rounded understanding.

Pilot testing indicated that serious gaming can be an effective way to introduce Planetary Health concepts in medical education. The game-based approach appears to engage students more effectively than traditional teaching methods might, though the abstract doesn’t provide specific data on learning improvements.

The research also demonstrated that open-access, modular educational materials can be integrated into medical education without requiring schools to completely restructure their existing curriculums. This is important because it removes a major barrier to adoption. The availability of teaching guides for educators suggests that the materials are designed to be user-friendly and don’t require specialized training to implement.

While the abstract doesn’t directly compare this work to previous studies, it addresses a recognized gap in medical education. Planetary Health is increasingly recognized as important by medical organizations worldwide, but integration into medical schools has been limited. This project appears to be one of the first comprehensive, freely available game-based approaches to teaching these concepts at scale.

The abstract doesn’t provide detailed information about the scope of pilot testing, specific learning outcomes measured, or how many students participated. Without this data, it’s difficult to assess how effective the game is at actually improving student knowledge or changing behavior. The research also doesn’t compare the game-based approach to traditional teaching methods with specific metrics. Future publications will likely provide more detailed results about effectiveness.

The Bottom Line

Medical educators should consider exploring ePlanet as a supplementary teaching tool for introducing Planetary Health concepts. The free, open-access format and availability in multiple languages make it practical to implement. However, educators should recognize that while pilot testing suggests the game is engaging, more research is needed to measure specific learning outcomes. Confidence level: Moderate—the approach shows promise but needs more rigorous evaluation.

Medical students and educators should care about this resource, as understanding Planetary Health is increasingly important for doctors. Healthcare administrators and curriculum planners should consider how to integrate these concepts. Public health professionals and environmental health advocates will also find this relevant. This is less relevant for patients seeking immediate health advice, though understanding these concepts can help patients make informed health choices.

Students may begin understanding connections between environment and health immediately through gameplay. However, meaningful changes in how doctors approach healthcare and environmental issues would likely take longer—potentially months to years of education and practice—to fully develop.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly engagement with Planetary Health learning: Record which ePlanet game scenarios you complete, which learning modules you finish, and which topics (air quality, nutrition, heat, infectious disease) you focus on. Measure this weekly to see progress over a semester or year.
  • Start by playing one ePlanet game scenario per week related to your clinical interests. After each scenario, identify one specific action you could take in your future medical practice to address the environmental or social health factor presented. Share your insights with classmates or mentors.
  • Create a learning journal documenting how your understanding of Planetary Health evolves as you engage with ePlanet materials. Track specific examples of how you’re applying systems thinking to health problems. Periodically reassess your confidence in discussing environmental and social factors that affect patient health.

This research describes an educational tool and teaching approach, not medical treatment or health advice. ePlanet is designed to supplement medical education and should not replace formal medical training or clinical supervision. While the game addresses important health topics like air pollution, nutrition, and infectious diseases, it is an educational resource, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. Medical students and educators should use ePlanet alongside their institution’s approved curriculum and under appropriate faculty guidance. If you have specific health concerns, consult with a qualified healthcare provider.