Development of a Mass Gathering and Event Medicine Tabletop Game
A Systems Approach to Major Planned Event Health Services Planning
Lund A1,2,3, Turris SA1,2,3, Lewis K1,3
Objective:
Create an interactive learning activity to apply event
health and emergency medical services planning
principles.

Background:
We created a series of interactive board game based
tabletop exercises to enhance systems learning for
major planned events (MPE).

Methods:
1. Review of mass gathering and education literature on the
effects of game theory on adult learning.
2. Conceptualization of planning and operational chronology
including pre, during, and post-event phases.
3. ‘Rules of engagement’ were created (e.g., cooperative versus
competitive play, optimum size of each tabletop team 6-8 players,
duration of play 90-120 minutes).
4. Illustration of ‘field of play’ (map) through creation of individual
game boards (e.g., obstacle adventure course, endurance
running event, multi-day music festival, triathlon, etc).

Results:
Core knowledge domains for event medical
services planning were themed as:
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Event, Risk & Resource Assessment
Personnel & Staffing
Equipment & Supplies
Infrastructure & Logistics
Transportation (to, on & from event)
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Administration & Medical Direction

5. ‘Character’ cards were implemented to represent the diverse
stakeholders involved in MPE health services planning.

Qualitative and quantitative feedback collected
from three workshops (convenience samples of 28
event race directors, 44 medical students, and 12
emergency medicine residents) was positive.

6. Generation of event-specific card decks, each representing
‘Bonus,’ ‘Challenge’ and ‘Patient’ scenarios to be addressed
through collaborative ‘free-play.’

Conclusions:

7. A survey was created to compare knowledge and comfort
levels in seven domains before and after game participation.

The use of a facilitated mass gathering and event
medicine tabletop exercise is an effective and
engaging delivery modality for the transmission and
integration of knowledge related to the planning
and delivery of health services for MPEs.
1 UBC Department of Emergency Medicine
2 Research Associate JIBC
3. Mass Gathering Medicine Interest Group, UBC