Development of an Interactive Escape Room Intervention to Educate College Students about Earthquake Preparedness

Interactive education strategies have been shown to be more effective in increasing knowledge of disaster preparedness than dissemination of written materials and lectures. To educate college students at a university, an earthquake-themed escape room was designed and implemented as part of a campuswide preparedness event. A total of 113 people (96% students) participated in the escape room activity and postgame educational lecture. A single-group postdesign was used to evaluate outcomes (earthquake reaction knowledge, knowledge of mitigation strategies for the home, knowledge of emergency kit supplies, intention to engage in preparedness activities). A majority of participants had not been exposed to a prior disaster preparedness workshop or class. Posttest results showed earthquake reaction knowledge and knowledge of mitigation strategies were high. Most participants attributed their knowledge gained to the interactive escape room. A majority of participants reported intentions of starting or updating an emergency kit. Findings suggest the escape room intervention has potential for increasing disaster preparedness knowledge among college students.