Virtual escape room paired with simulation improves health professions students' readiness to function in interprofessional teams

Background: This project investigated the change in nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy students' interprofessional socialization after participation in a virtual interprofessional escape room and case conference simulation.Interprofessional education activity: Interprofessional teams of nursing (n = 93), pharmacy (n = 75) and physical therapy (n = 33) students completed asynchronous, online learning (sepsis recog-nition and total hip replacement post-operative precautions) followed by a virtual escape room and a virtual simulated patient case conference. During the case conference, interprofessional student teams developed a discharge plan for an individual after a hip replacement complicated by post-operative sepsis. Before and after the experience, students completed a knowledge test and a validated survey instrument that assessed their interprofessional socialization (Interpro-fessional Socialization and Valuing Scale-21). During the simulated patient case conference, faculty assessed student performance using a standardized rubric. After the experience students completed a program evaluation.Discussion: Interprofessional socialization significantly increased (5.5 +/- 0.9 vs. 6.0 +/- 0.9) among all students with a medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.56). Faculty assessment of individual student's team performance during the virtual simulation revealed a moderate rate meeting competency, with good interrater reliability. Students highly valued this learning experience as being both effective and important to their professional development, as indicated on the pro-gram evaluation.Implications: A virtual interprofessional experience consisting of asynchronous online learning, a virtual escape room, and a virtual case conference positively influenced students' interprofes-sional socialization. Students valued the experience and recognized its importance in their development as student health professionals.