(11) An Escape Room Activity to Improve Student Pharmacist Knowledge and Confidence in Treating Migraine Headache

Objective : The purpose of this study was to develop and assess an escape room activity embedded in a required pharmacy practice laboratory course to improve student pharmacist knowledge and confidence in caring for patients with migraine headache.

Methods: A 90-minute, 7-puzzle, escape room activity focusing on migraine headache was created for a pharmacy practice skills laboratory activity to complement a 2-hour traditional pharmacotherapy lecture. The activity was completed in groups of 4 to 6 students each. A pre-post, optional, anonymous survey measured short-term knowledge via a 5-question multiple choice quiz and confidence using a 9-item, 5-point, Likert-scale survey. Knowledge retention was evaluated by comparing students' exam scores on migraine headache content in the midterm (6 questions) and final (3 questions) exams before and after implementing the escape room activity. This study was deemed exempt by the University of Texas Institutional Review Board.

Results: Most students (57/103, 55%) responded to both surveys. Nearly all students (96%) reported that they had not attended the accompanying lecture prior to lab, suggesting the lab was their initial exposure to pharmacotherapy content on migraine headache. Significant improvements were observed in student short-term knowledge acquisition (4 of 5 post-survey quiz questions) and long-term knowledge retention (1 of 6 midterm exam questions). Similarly, significant improvements were observed in student confidence immediately following the escape room activity (all post-survey confidence questions).

Conclusions: An escape room activity embedded in a required pharmacy practice laboratory course improved student pharmacist knowledge and confidence in caring for patients with migraine headache.