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Under the microscope: Escape rooms

This month: Escape rooms

What is an escape room?

It is a game in which you’re locked in a room and the only way out is for a team of players to solve a series of puzzles.

That doesn’t sound like much fun.

I agree, but they are pretty popular – pre-pandemic, there were more than 1500 escape rooms across the UK.

Why do people like them?

Apparently, their popularity has its roots in the Dungeons & Dragons craze from the 1970s and UK TV game show The Crystal Maze.

I’m assuming there’s some tangential connection with biomedical science?

Correct. Escape rooms are proving their value as medical training tools, according to a presentation at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology’s conference.

What’s the story there?

Staff at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System used the concept of a “flu pandemic escape room” in the hope of increased staff handwashing and acceptance of flu vaccines as a result.

What happened?

Participants were given a pandemic, novel flu scenario and asked to select appropriate PPE, then work as a team to find a series of clues.

Did it help?

Yes – self-reported behavioural changes included an increase in handwashing by 61% and an increase in PPE use 21%.

Was this pre-pandemic?

That’s right. They cancelled their escape room training last year.

Where can I find out more?

Visit bit.ly/3y8UKib

 

Image Credit | iStock

 

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