The COMET framework: A novel approach to design an escape room workshop for interprofessional objectives

Area of Science:

• Interprofessional Education
• Team Training
• Educational Frameworks

Background:

• Recreational escape rooms are increasingly used in professional education and team training.
• A gap exists in practical, objective-focused design frameworks for interprofessional escape rooms.
• Educators and leaders need structured guidance for developing effective escape room experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and pilot the COMET Framework (Context, Objectives, Materials, Execution, and Team Dynamics) for escape room design.
• To provide a practical, step-by-step approach for creating interprofessional escape room learning experiences.
• To assess the framework's utility in enhancing understanding and confidence in escape room design.

Main Methods:

• Development of the COMET Framework, a generalizable design approach.
• Pilot testing of the framework in a one-hour workshop at a regional interprofessional conference.
• Administration of post-workshop surveys to evaluate participant understanding and confidence.

Main Results:

• The COMET Framework was successfully piloted in an interprofessional setting.
• Participant surveys indicated increased understanding and confidence in escape room design after applying the framework.
• The framework proved beneficial regardless of participants' prior experience with escape rooms.

Conclusions:

• The COMET Framework offers a practical and effective method for designing interprofessional escape rooms.
• Its generalizable nature suggests potential application beyond escape rooms to broader interprofessional training and faculty development.
• The framework addresses a critical need for structured design guidance in team-based learning environments.