Using Crosswords in UG Medical Education: A Systematic Review on its Feasibility, Cognitive Impact & Affective Response

Authors

  • Shobhana S S Professor, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, St. Peter’s Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Hosur
  • K G Raviraj Professor, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, PES Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam

Keywords:

Affective response, Cognitive impact, Crosswords in Medical Education, feasibility, undergraduate medical students

Abstract

Background: Newer teaching-learning methods are the need of the hour. More and more students are feeling for innovation in medical education. National Medical Commission, the apex body governing medical education in India is also encouraging the innovations in medical education. Students get bored of continuous didactic lectures. Using gamification strategies will create curiosity and interest in the topic and make students concentrate on the teaching without coercion.

Methods: Articles dealing with the components of using crosswords in medical education with emphasis on ‘feasibility for faculty’, ‘the Cognitive Impact’ and ‘the Affective Impact’ were searched using Google scholar search engine. Google scholar labs were used for suggestions. Around 190 articles were found out of which 46 matched the points of review.

Results: How it can be made feasible from teacher’s angle is addressed in this article. This also shows positive cognitive and affective impact on students.

Conclusion: Gamification strategies in the form of crosswords for teaching learning activity in medical education may be used as adjuvant to reinforce the learning on the desired topic. It does help students to retain and recall.

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Published

2026-04-28

Issue

Section

Systematic Review