Abstract
Background
This article explores the burgeoning challenge of providing adequate healthcare to vulnerable migrants and refugees (VMRs) within the European Union, an issue exacerbated by the recent surge in migration and asylum applications. A critical gap identified is the lack of intercultural competence (ICC) training in healthcare education, which impedes healthcare professionals' ability to offer culturally sensitive care. The study introduces an innovative educational tool, the "Refugee Escape Room" (RER), to address this gap.
Methods
The RER is a novel gamification-based initiative, conceptualized to enhance ICC, self-efficacy (SE), and knowledge among healthcare students and professionals. It employs an immersive learning approach, where participants engage in a simulated migratory scenario set in a future world crisis, necessitating collaborative problem-solving and decision-making under pressure. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including a pre-post intervention design with a newly validated questionnaire and thematic content analysis of qualitative feedback.
Results
Results from the 101 recruited participants indicate significant improvements in ICC (d=1.13; t=-12.64, p<0.001), SE (d=0.38; t=-3.56; p=0.001), and knowledge (d=1.19; t=-8.40; p<0.001) post-intervention. Participants reported enhanced understanding of VMRs' health challenges and increased empathy, translating their learning into improved attitudes and skills. The study also highlights the potential of educational escape rooms in engaging diverse learners and fostering experiential learning.
Conclusions
The RER, with its focus on VMRs and ICC training, is an innovative, acceptable and feasableeducational tool that attemps to fill a crucial gap in healthcare education. It represents a promising step towards more effective intercultural training in healthcare, thereby addressing health disparities and improving care quality for vulnerable populations. The study suggests the need for more structured research and methodological rigor to further assess the impact of novel educational tools in healthcare training.