Comparison of an In-Person versus Virtual Interprofessional Escape Room and Simulation Experience for Pharmacy, Nursing and Physical Therapy Students

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced health professions programs to deliver educational content virtually, including interprofessional education (IPE). Data are lacking comparing educational outcomes and students' attitudes toward virtual versus in-person IPE. Research Question or Hypothesis: Will virtual interprofessional (IP) escape room/simulation experiences impact students' IP socialization and knowledge similar to equivalent in-person experiences? Study Design: Pre-posttest quasi-experimental design. Method(s) IP student teams (pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy) completed an in-person or virtual escape room/simulated case conference experience. Escape room themes were sepsis and joint precautions following hip replacement surgery. In the case conference, students collaboratively developed an IP discharge care plan for a patient after hip replacement complicated by post-operative sepsis. Before and after the learning experience, students completed a knowledge test and a validated pre-post survey assessing IP socialization (Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale-21;ISVS-21). At post, students completed a program evaluation. Data were compared using two-way repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS v26 with alpha=0.05. Result(s) ISVS-21 scores increased for both in-person (n=262) and virtual (n=210) experiences. Pre-experience scores were statistically but not meaningfully different between groups [5.1(0.9) in-person;5.5 (0.9) virtual;p<0.05]. ISVS-21 mean change scores differed slightly between groups [0.9(1.3) in-person;0.5(0.8) virtual;p<0.05;Cohen's d=0.40]. Pre-test knowledge scores were not different [6.7(1.8) inperson;6.6(1.6) virtual;p=0.4], however mean change scores differed modestly between groups [0.7(1.4) in-person;0.1(1.8) virtual;p<0.05;Cohen's d=0.39]. Both in-person and virtual experiences were rated highly per the program evaluation. Conclusion(s) Differences between in-person versus virtual IPE escape room/simulated case conference experiences for pharmacy, nursing and physical therapy students were present but minor. Virtual IPE may offer a comparable alternative to in-person IPE and could be an acceptable option for programs encountering financial or logistical barriers to implementing effective in-person IPE..