WIP 41 - Enhancing Pediatric Critical Care Education: A Virtual Escape Room Simulation as an Innovative and Interactive Learning Tool for Pediatric Residents in the PICU

Publication Number: WIP 41.7509

Maureen Kate B.. Chavez, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Edmundo Martinez, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL, United States

Background: The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a challenging environment requiring residents to have a strong knowledge foundation, critical thinking skills and confidence. Traditional teaching methods continue to be the standard of learning but has limitations in fully engaging residents. With the growth of online education, virtual escape room (VER) simulations have emerged as an innovative educational tool that creates an immersive scenario-based learning environment. It offers an opportunity to enhance the overall educational experience, knowledge base, comfort and readiness for the complexities of PICU.

Objective: The study aims to assess the impact of a VER simulation as a supplemental educational tool for residents. We hypothesize that participation in the VER will improve their mean score on their post-test to assess for knowledge by 15% and improved comfort with a mean score of 4 out of 5.

Design/Methods: This is a pre-post intervention study targeting Pediatric, Med-Peds, and EM residents prior to their PICU rotations. Baseline survey was completed to evaluate confidence levels and knowledge foundation in 5 challenging PICU topics based on a needs assessment survey. Topics include management of TBI, ventilator management of respiratory failure, resuscitation and management of septic shock, sedation and analgesia in the PICU, and identification and management of cardiogenic shock. Out of 68 residents, 24 are currently enrolled and recruitment is ongoing, who are expected to complete the intervention by December 6, 2024 . After, a post-intervention test and post-intervention comfort survey will be completed. Paired t-tests will be used to analyze differences between pre- and post-intervention scores. To detect a 1.5 point difference in the mean scores with a SD of 3, 34 residents will be needed to detect the difference with a significant level of 5% and power of 80%. This study will contribute to the body of research supporting innovative learning tools in medical education highlighting the potential of VER to improve educational outcomes in pediatric critical care.