JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Nursing home residents are at high-risk of complications and death due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Lack of resources, both human and material, amplifies the likelihood of contamination in these facilities where a single employee can contaminate dozens of residents and colleagues. Improving the dissemination of and adhesion to infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines is therefore essential. Serious games have been shown to be effective in developing knowledge and in increasing engagement and could motivate nursing home employees to change their IPC practices.

Objective:

Our aim is to assess the impact of “Escape COVID-19”, a serious game designed to enhance knowledge and application of IPC procedures, on the intention of nursing home employees to change their IPC practices.

Methods:

We will carry out a web-based, randomized controlled trial following the CONSORT-EHEALTH guidelines and incorporating relevant elements of the CHERRIES checklist. Participants will be randomized to either the control or the serious game (intervention) group. First, both groups will be asked to answer a questionnaire designed to gather demographic data and assess baseline knowledge. The control group will then access a quick reminder of the current national guidelines and links to IPC guidelines for healthcare professionals, while the other group will follow the game. Both groups will then have to answer a second questionnaire designed to assess their willingness to change their IPC practices after having followed their respective material. After completing this questionnaire, they will be granted access to the material presented to the group they were not assigned to and receive a course completion certificate. The primary outcome will be the proportion of participants willing to change their IPC practices according to group. Secondary outcomes will include the analysis of specific questions detailing the exact changes considered by the participants. Factors associated with participant willingness or reluctance to change behaviour will also be assessed. Attrition will also be assessed at each stage of the study.

Results:

The study protocol has been presented to our regional ethics committee (Req-2020-01262), which issued a declaration of no objection as such projects do not fall within the scope of the Swiss federal law on human research. Data collection began on November 5th and should be completed by December 4th, 2020.

Conclusions:

This study should determine whether “Escape COVID-19”, a serious game designed to improve compliance with COVID safe practices, modifies the intention of applying IPC guidelines in nursing home employees.