Infectious Disease
Pandemic-themed escape room improves infection control compliance for hospital staff
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Causey K, Boseman G. Pandemic Escape: Using an Escape Room to Increase Learner Engagement in Infection Prevention and Control. Presented on: APIC 2021; 28.-30. June 2021 (virtual meeting).
Disclosure:
Boseman and Causey do not report any relevant financial information.
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A pandemic-themed escape room increased compliance with infection prevention and control measures in a Texas health system, researchers reported at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology meeting.
Grace Boseman
Kristy Causey
Grace Boseman, MPH, RN, a nurse in the Veterans Health Care System of Central Texas, and Central Kristy Causey, MSN-Ed, RN, the Escape Room 3 years before the COVID-19 pandemic brought infection prevention and control into the national spotlight.
“In 2017, efforts to promote hand hygiene and other basic infection control principles – combined with the intent to encourage staff participation – resulted in a need for more engaging and comprehensive learning experiences. At that time, social escape rooms and zombie-themed shows became viral sensations, ”Boseman told Healio.
In 2017 they started the first Escape Room and repeated the experiment in 2018 and 2019. The theme of the room was a pandemic caused by a novel influenza virus. The participants were asked to select suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) for the novel influenza before entering the room.
Inside, participants had a short time to work as a team to find clues, as is typical for escape rooms. They were also asked to demonstrate at least three principles of infection control, explain how environmental surfaces play a role in disease transmission, and hypothesize how their role would change during a pandemic – a task added after the Researchers had received feedback on how this scenario “probably never” happened. ”
In addition, unlike traditional escape rooms, attendees had to overcome additional obstacles, including time penalties for wrong actions that reflected the disruption that could be caused in real-world patient care if wrong action was taken.
Overall, the researchers said the escape room was well received and effective. They saw an increase in non-mandatory learner attendance from an average of 20-30 participants to around 200 participants per class, resulting in better communication and team collaboration, both of which are critical to getting out of the room on time.
Three months after the escape room, surveys conducted to the participants assessed changes in behavior. According to the researchers, participants themselves reported that hand washing increased by 61%, environmental awareness increased by 23% regarding the role of contaminated surfaces in disease transmission and the use of PPE increased by 21%.
The survey also found that 9% of administrative workers reported no changes to their current practice because “they are administrative,” which the researchers said highlights the need to involve non-clinical staff in training and the importance everyone has in the infection to play has prevention and control.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Escape Rooms have been canceled. However, throughout the pandemic, hospital staff who had attended the training were more actively involved in preparing for the pandemic.
“Simulation and innovative learning methods can make a significant contribution to preventing the spread of germs in the entire hospital environment. Employees become more committed to learning when we pique their interest, ”said Causey. “Making education a pleasure doesn’t detract from its value. Learning can be fun and still have a positive impact on patient outcomes. “
According to Boseman and Causey, the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System has six escape rooms dedicated to all employees, Boseman and Causey said.
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