Out-BREAK!: An IDWeek 2023 Escape Room to Break Out of the Educational Mold

• Published in: Open forum infectious diseases 2024-10, Vol.11 (10), p.ofae558
• Main Authors: Zhong, Diana, Dong, Sara W, Chu, Victoria T, Gabriel, Nathalie, Lusardi, Katherine, Searns, Justin B, Wattier, Rachel L, Ristagno, Elizabeth H, Bhimraj, Adarsh, Boguniewicz, Juri, Pottinger, Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Editor's Choice; Education and Training in Infectious Diseases
• ISSN: 2328-8957; 2328-8957
• DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae558

An escape room is a cooperative game that has been adapted into medical education and major academic conferences. We describe the design, development, and implementation of an educational ID-themed escape room activity entitled "Out-BREAK!" at an international conference, IDWeek 2023. An anonymous survey was conducted to collect demographic data, assess participant satisfaction with the escape room puzzles, and gauge participant interest in game-based learning. Thirty escape room sessions were held over 3 days and included 201 participants. Escape room survey respondents (n = 132) were younger and more likely to be trainees compared with in-person IDWeek attendants. Among 131 responses, all respondents enjoyed the experience and would recommend the escape room activity to friends. Survey respondents enjoyed the puzzle solving (93%), medical content (92%), and team building (79%) components. Only 35% of the respondents had ever previously participated in game-based learning; 95% thought the escape room was a valuable teaching method. Among the 72 survey respondents involved in medical education, almost all (90%) said they were interested in incorporating escape rooms into medical education. The Out-BREAK! escape room at IDWeek 2023 was successfully implemented and well received. Despite only a third of participants having prior experience with game-based learning, almost all respondents perceived the escape room to be an effective teaching method.