Revolutionizing Oncology Education: How OncoBlast Makes Learning Engaging and Rewarding

Introduction

Are you a medical student, fellow, or resident looking to fit more exam study into your day, or as an oncologist, are you struggling to keep up with the latest developments in cancer management? Look no further than OncoBlast.

The Need For Innovation in Oncology Education

OncoBlast is the world’s first application that provides oncology-centered, game-based activities accredited to earn Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Points and Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits for free. This app was launched to address the dire need of oncology and hematology professionals to keep up with the avalanche of medical information in oncology.

Traditional CMEs typically take the form of face-to-face courses and seminars. It may also be informal, such as reading texts or journals. But these approaches are not always feasible for busy healthcare professionals. Some of the challenges include the lack of time, family commitments, lack of access to professional colleagues, distance to travel, and cost of attendance, among others. These challenges have only been partially addressed by online courses, which are often plagued by poor course design, passive learning, or being expensive.

OncoBlast empowers students, residents, fellows, and clinicians to help cancer patients by reinforcing knowledge on the best advances in cancer biology and therapy. Staying current is now becoming a burden in medical oncology due to information overload. For example, just from January through March 2024, the FDA issued 14 approvals for cancer indications, covering advances in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy. Moreover, 4 of these cancer drugs are accelerated approvals, indicating the urgency of innovative and effective oncology treatments.

To maintain the same pace with the best practices for cancer management, healthcare professionals must adopt effective learning strategies to overcome the challenges of their busy schedules. The OncoBlast app, a pioneer in gamified learning within oncology, is here to make learning easy, accessible, and fun.

From Game to Knowledge: The OncoBlast App's Journey

OncoBlast launched in mid-August 2024 during the Seattle Cellular Therapy Summit, introducing an innovative educational app for medical professionals. Initially designed as a gamified learning platform, the app quickly evolved to include both game and trivia modes to cater to different learning preferences. Developed by a small team at Binaytara, the app offers free, oncologist-focused educational content with CME credits.

Explore CME-Accredited Oncology Courses

Looking ahead, the team aims to scale the app's reach, targeting a broader demographic including medical students, residents, and fellows preparing for board exams.

Future plans include expanding content through conference-based grants, adding video clips from medical conferences, and maintaining regular course updates to provide a dynamic, accessible learning experience for healthcare professionals.

Exciting and Innovative Features of Oncoblast

OncoBlast uses gamification to provide oncology-focused quizzes, interactive case studies, and knowledge challenges. The app is designed for healthcare professionals who want to stay abreast of the latest developments in oncology. As one medical professional who attended one of our conferences stated, “ The app's leaderboard and interactive design make learning engaging, and I can earn CME credits while comparing my performance with peers. It's convenient, cost-effective, and tailored to fit my demanding schedule.”

In the Oncoblast app, you will find:

Challenge and featured courses:

These courses focus on testing users' knowledge across the entire spectrum of oncology, from thoracic cancers to hematologic malignancies. For example, in the personalized treatment plan challenge, participants can select treatment plans based on patient-specific data. Associated with the challenge are case-based simulation studies, decision-making processes, and feedback and scoring. Users can enroll and take courses covering various therapeutic modalities like immunotherapy and biomarkers, updates in cellular therapy, and targeted therapy selection. Leading oncologists review the courses to ensure quality and accuracy.

Versatile Game Mode Options:

OncoBlast users can choose between two options before beginning a course: Geek Mode or Fun Mode. Geek Mode allows participants to tackle questions in a multiple-choice format, while Fun Mode presents questions in a more interactive style. In Fun Mode, users find themselves as the character, Mindy, in a natural landscape with pebbled stones, greenery, and a companion bird. To help defeat cancer, users start by reading the question and exploring book icons with important oncology information. When a correct answer is chosen, the character gains more tools to fight cancer, and a bridge is built, symbolizing progress toward victory. However, a wrong answer gives cancer an advantage and costs a life.

Gamify Cancer Education with OncoBlast Missions

Competitive Leaderboards and Rewards:

What fun is it to learn alone? OncoBlast competitive global leaderboard displays users' medical knowledge and stacks it up against other physicians and healthcare providers around the world. For each course, users can see the number of players and their ranking within each course. The top three players are displayed, with the highest ranking player receiving a crown, fostering a competitive spirit that keeps players motivated.

Track Progress with OncoBlast’s Global Leaderboard

How OncoBlast is Bridging the Gap in Cancer Care

OncoBlast’s impact is not limited to the United States. Its reach is global. It is addressing cancer disparities by making top-tier oncology education accessible to doctors in underserved regions. Physicians in countries like Nepal, Myanmar, Ethiopia, and Kenya, who may not otherwise have access to the latest cancer treatments used in the U.S., can now learn and apply these methods in their hospitals through the platform. In fact, OncoBlast has been downloaded in 40 countries around the world.

Beyond international disparities, OncoBlast is also valuable within the U.S., where access to cancer care varies widely. While some states have towns with well-developed healthcare infrastructure, others lack hospitals and specialized care. OncoBlast provides a way for healthcare professionals in these areas to access critical oncology knowledge from anywhere, simply by engaging with the game-based platform.

How to Get Started with OncoBlast

Oncoblast is available on the App Store and Google Play Store for free. After downloading the app, users can create a profile and start playing a variety of oncology-based games and challenges. Upon completing each course, users earn ABIM MOC points, AMA PRA Category 1 credit, and CME credits. Engaging with questions and topics aligned with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification exam helps users sharpen their knowledge in a structured and engaging manner. Courses are regularly updated to reflect the latest research and guidelines, with content reviewed by leading oncologists. New courses and questions are added weekly, enabling users to expand their expertise continuously. Players can track their progress and compete with peers, making the learning experience fun and rewarding.

Conclusion

OncoBlast is currently the only game-based application that provides free CME-accredited oncology-centered education to healthcare professionals. The OncoBlast user is not only learning to enhance their knowledge of cancer but also retaining the knowledge gained. With its unique interface and value-based content, OncoBlast is transforming oncology education by making it more engaging, accessible, and rewarding. Medical students and residents may also use it to prepare for board exams, sharpening their knowledge on the go.

Earn free CME credits and MOC points by downloading the OncoBlast app. Stay updated on the latest in cancer care and education—learn anytime, anywhere, and start your OncoBlast journey today!