NICU escape rooms: an innovative, gamified approach to team-based interpersonal and communication skills education

Escape rooms have been studied in other specialties for the current generation of learners, but not in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Gamification with escape rooms may address team-based interpersonal and communication skills education. Assess the impact of implementing a NICU escape room and its role in team-based interpersonal and communication skills education. Participants solved a series of puzzles using core neonatology knowledge to reveal a final clue. Ratings were evaluated using Likert scale-based post-activity and end-of-rotation surveys. Participation in the NICU escape room addressed team-based interpersonal and communication skills education compared to nonparticipants (mean 3.35 vs. 2.72, p = 0.03). Residents rated the escape room activity significantly higher than morning didactics, noon lectures, and teaching during rounds. There were no differences in the overall NICU education rating or degree of engagement between participants and nonparticipants. On the post-activity survey, mean ratings of the escape room exceeded 4 out of 5 for enhancing the educational experience, engagement, confidence, relevance, and use of interpersonal and communication skills in a supportive environment. NICU escape rooms are a modality for team-based communication and interpersonal skills education, are preferred over other teaching methods, and foster a positive learning experience. Escape rooms are an innovative way to address the gap in education regarding team-based interpersonal and communication skill development, which is of particular importance for trainees in a high-acuity setting. Escape rooms are an enjoyable, engaging educational activity that are preferred over other didactic methods.