Radchase: Gamification as a tool to support professional learning and engagement in radiation therapy teams

BACKGROUND: Burnout among radiation therapists (RTTs) continues to affect engagement and retention, which impacts the overall quality of care patients receive. To help support wellness and strengthen connection across six cancer centres in British Columbia, a virtual scavenger hunt, RadChase, was introduced during Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) week. METHODS: Using the Goosechase platform, teams completed a five-day set of 74 missions spanning policy, knowledge and competency, community engagement, professional development, and creative teambuilding activities. The missions were a mix of multiple-choice questions and photo submission activities. RESULTS: Fifty-five participants across eleven geographically dispersed teams completed 93% of missions. Program evaluation findings demonstrated high engagement, with 97.6% of 42 survey respondents reporting a positive participant experience. Survey feedback suggests improved team cohesion, greater awareness of provincial RTT practice and resources, enhanced regulatory and professional practice knowledge, increased familiarity with SharePoint materials and professional development opportunities. Post-event survey results demonstrated strong perceived learning gains, with a mean of 4.2/5 and 75.0% of respondents rating their learning ≥4. Website analytics showed increased engagement with professional practice materials linked to the event, and the event generated additional outreach beyond participants. CONCLUSION: Program evaluation findings suggest that the RadChase event helped address the challenge of supporting staff wellness while maintaining continuous learning in a high-demand clinical environment. Integrating gamification in this manner was associated with increased engagement, strengthened team relationships, and improved awareness and learning of professional resources. This approach may offer a practical strategy for building a more connected and resilient workforce with potential benefits for staff engagement and retention. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Burnout can affect healthcare staff wellbeing and may make it harder to stay engaged at work. This study evaluated a five-day virtual team challenge involving learning activities, workplace knowledge, and team-building tasks for radiation therapists across six cancer centres in British Columbia. This study found that participants reported a positive experience, stronger team connections, increased awareness of professional resources, and improved learning. This matters because engaging activities that combine education and teamwork may help support staff wellbeing, strengthen workplace connections, and improve retention.