Ahead of the game: the use of gaming to enhance knowledge of psychopharmacology.

Experiential teaching strategies have the potential to more effectively help students with critical thinking than traditional lecture formats. Gaming is an experiential teaching-learning strategy that reinforces teamwork, interaction, and enjoyment and introduces the element of play. Two Bachelor of Science in Nursing students and a clinical instructor created a Jeopardy!(®)-style game to enhance understanding of psychopharmacology, foster student engagement in the learning process, and promote student enjoyment during clinical postconference. The current article evaluates the utility, relevance, and effectiveness of gaming using a Jeopardy!(®)-style format for the psychiatric clinical setting. Students identified the strengths of this learning activity as increased awareness of knowledge deficits, as well as the reinforcement of existing knowledge and the value of teamwork.

'Old' bones in young bodies: the tale of cystic fibrosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic disease within the white population and leads to premature respiratory failure. Approximately, 60 000 individuals are currently living with CF in North America and Europe, almost half of whom are adults. RECENT FINDINGS: Dozens of studies across the globe indicate that CF adults have low bone density and increased rates of fractures. This genesis of the problem appears to be in late childhood to adolescence. SUMMARY: Prevention and treatment of CF-related bone disease must address the myriad risk factors (decreased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins due to pancreatic insufficiency, altered sex hormone production, chronic lung infection with increased serum levels of proinflammatory, bone-active cytokines, malnutrition and low body weight, physical inactivity and glucocorticoid therapy) for poor bone health. This review will address the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of bone disease in CF. It will also discuss best practice guidelines for optimizing bone health in patients with CF.