Development and Design of a Pediatric Case-Based Virtual Escape Room on Acute Iron Toxicity

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Toxicology
• Gamification

Background:

• Acute iron toxicity is a significant concern in children, with nearly 11,000 cases reported annually in the US.
• Iron tablets, especially those containing ferrous sulfate, pose a risk due to their appealing appearance and high elemental iron concentration.
• Virtual escape rooms (VERs) offer an innovative, gamified approach to medical education, allowing remote collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual escape room (VER) as a didactic tool for teaching acute iron toxicity.
• To assess the VER's impact on teamwork and its adaptability across different educational settings and platforms.

Main Methods:

• A seven-step development process was used to create the VER, aligning puzzles with learning objectives.
• The VER was hosted on Articulate 360, supported by a facilitator guide.
• Implementation involved pre-briefing, a timed escape room scenario, debriefing, and post-evaluation surveys, conducted both in-person and online.

Main Results:

• 55 respondents completed post-evaluation surveys.
• A high percentage of trainees and faculty found the VER design easy to follow (78.2%), fostered teamwork (90.9%), and considered it a feasible educational method (85.5%).

Conclusions:

• The virtual escape room (VER) is a successful and versatile educational tool for acute iron toxicity.
• The VER format is adaptable for various learners (trainees, faculty, nursing) and delivery methods (in-person, online).
• Future research should focus on long-term outcome data and knowledge retention in clinical management.