NCT04783025

Brief Summary

188 healthcare personnel from 20 residential care homes (RCHs) will be recruited to assess the effect of 2-week implementation of Blended Gaming COVID-19 Training System (BGCTS) on RCH staffs' infection control practices. These clusters (RCHs) will be randomly allocated to two study groups (the intervention group, IG; and the control group, CG) to assess 1. whether more staff in the IG perform infection control practices (by on-site observations) than the staff in the CG after receiving BGCTS and 2. whether more staff in the IG have infection control knowledge, positive attitudes towards infection control, and self-reported compliance rates than the staff in the CG. 5 Hypothesis have been set up for this study: H1. After using BGCTS, a higher proportion of the staff in the IG will exhibit performance in complying with hand hygiene measures than those in the CG. H2. After using BGCTS, a higher proportion of the staff in the IG will exhibit performance in complying with other infection control practices than those in the CG. H3. After using BGCTS, a higher proportion of the staff in the IG will have high level of knowledge of infection control than those in the CG. H4. After using BGCTS, a higher proportion of the staff in the IG will have positive attitudes towards infection control than those in the CG. H5. After using BGCTS, a higher proportion of the staff in the IG will have a high self-reported compliance rate with infection control measures than those in the CG. Infection control practices conducted by RCH staffs will be measured through unobtrusive on-site non-participatory observations. RCH staffs' knowledge, attitudes about infection control practice, and self-reported infection control practices will be assessed via an electronic quiz.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
188

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2021

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 25, 2021

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 4, 2021

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2021

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 31, 2022

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 31, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

May 12, 2021

Status Verified

May 1, 2021

Enrollment Period

10 months

First QC Date

February 25, 2021

Last Update Submit

May 11, 2021

Conditions

Keywords

COVID-19Infection controlTraining systemGamificationResidential care homesHealthcare personnel

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Changes in unobtrusive observational-based compliance rate of infection control practices

    Observed infection control practices will be recorded through a software called eRub, developed by PolyU with a Finnish company. eRub comprises two sets of checklists: 1.hand hygiene (HH)2.infection control practice (ICP). Checklists are constructed based on the WHO's My 5 Moments list and COVID-19 risk communication package for healthcare facilities . The HH activities ( HH opportunities and its duration), will be rated as 'properly performed, performed, improperly performed, or missed performing'. Others infection control practices (eg. respiratory hygiene, disinfecting used surfaces/ equipment etc.), will also be rated. Staff with a rating of 'properly performed' and 'performed' will be classified as 'performed' while others will be regarded as 'not performed'. The content validity indices for the relevance and adequacy of the eRub items were greater than 0.83 (range, 0.83-1.00), indicating satisfactory content validity.

    T0 (baseline) and T2 (after the intervention at Week 3)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Knowledge and attitudes towards respiratory infection (KARI)

    T0 (baseline) and T2 (after the intervention at Week 3)

  • Self-reported Infection Control Practice (SICP)

    T0 (baseline) and T2 (after the intervention at Week 3)

  • Demographic data

    T0 (baseline)

  • Data on experience

    T0 (baseline)

Other Outcomes (4)

  • Number of log-ins on Blended Gaming COVID-19 Training System (BGCTS)

    T1 (During the intervention: at Week 2)

  • Number of attempts on Blended Gaming COVID-19 Training System (BGCTS)

    T1 (During the intervention at Week 2)

  • Time spent on Blended Gaming COVID-19 Training System (BGCTS)

    T1 (During the intervention at Week 2)

  • +1 more other outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group (IG)

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants in the IG will receive BGCTS, a blended training programme

Behavioral: Blended Gaming COVID-19 Training System (BGCTS)

Control Group (CG)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the CG will receive usual care, the infection control briefing given by the Infection Control Officer (ICO) of the RCHs to all staff.

Behavioral: Usual care, infection control briefing

Interventions

BGCTS is a blended training programme integrated with games and short video clips for Residential Care Home staffs to learn the principles of infection control and reinforce actions needed to stop the spread of COVID-19 within the RCHs, and to care for those residents suspected of having COVID-19. The contents of the training will refer to the evidence-based contents from The COVID-19 Risk Communication Package For Healthcare Facilities. Dosage of the intervention. Staffs are encouraged to learn each topic independently in 15 minutes. It will take a total of 120 minutes to complete all eight topics in 2 weeks. Staffs will attend two 30-minute face-to-face group sessions conducted by research nurse (and the Infection Control Officer of the RCH) to clarify concepts (one per week; after playing the games). Scores and progress bar will be shown to the staff so as a form of motivation to encourage continuous participation in the training.

Intervention Group (IG)

Participants in the CG will receive usual care, the infection control briefing given by the Infection Control Officer (ICO) of the RCHs to all staffs. Usually the briefing is irregular, non-standardized and determined by ICOs, depending on when the ICOs receive the information about infection control practice from Centre for Health Protection of the Hong Kong government. The format and duration of this briefing is determined by the ICO. Some ICOs deliver the infection control information in the form of posters or a written document, and circulate these materials to all staffs.

Control Group (CG)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Healthcare personnel who are working in the selected Residential care homes (RCHs)
  • Able to read Chinese, and
  • Possess an electronic device (smartphone or tablet) with which to download the BGCTS system.

You may not qualify if:

  • Temporary staff who are about to cease employment, be on maternity leave, or go on a long vacation during the data collection period;
  • Students or trainees (including nursing students, physiotherapy students, and health-related trainees), because training institutions are responsible for students' training, and such training may affect students' performance;
  • Volunteer personnel who come to the RCHs at a specific period (for example, to organize activities for the residents during festivals);
  • Clerical and administrative staff, kitchen staff, security staff, and engineering and facilities management staff;
  • Ambulance officers who come to the RCHs to take residents to or from hospitals.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Related Publications (12)

  • World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region Office (WPRO). The COVID-19 Risk Communication Package for Healthcare Facilities. The COVID-19 risk communication package for healthcare facilities. March 2020. https://iris.wpro.who.int/handle/10665.1/14482 (accessed 6 Jun 2020).

    BACKGROUND
  • Cesari M, Proietti M. Editorial: Geriatric medicine in Italy in the time of COVID-19. J Nutr Health Aging. 2020;24(5):459-460. doi: 10.1007/s12603-020-1354-z. No abstract available.

    PMID: 32346679BACKGROUND
  • Social Welfare Department. Resources of code of practice for residential care homes (Elderly Persons). Hong Kong: Social Welfare Department January 2020. https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_lr/sub_rche/id_copref/ (accessed 7 Jun 2020).

    BACKGROUND
  • Center for Health Protection. Guidelines for residential care homes for the elderly or persons with disabilities for the prevention of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 2020. https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/advice_to_rche_rchd_on_prevention_of_nid_eng.pdf (accessed 7 Jun 2020).

    BACKGROUND
  • World Health Organization (WHO). World Health Organization Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care. Geneva: WHO 2019. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-guidelines-on-hand-hygiene-in-health-care (accessed 6 Jun 2020).

    BACKGROUND
  • Karabay M, Kaya G, Hafizoglu T, Karabay O. Effect of camera monitoring and feedback along with training on hospital infection rate in a neonatal intensive care unit. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2019 Nov 13;18(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s12941-019-0332-y.

    PMID: 31722715BACKGROUND
  • Vlachopoulos D, Makri A. The effect of games and simulations on higher education: a systematic literature review. Int J Edu Tech in Higher Edu 2017;14. doi:10.1186/s41239-017-0062-1

    BACKGROUND
  • Gentry SV, Gauthier A, L'Estrade Ehrstrom B, Wortley D, Lilienthal A, Tudor Car L, Dauwels-Okutsu S, Nikolaou CK, Zary N, Campbell J, Car J. Serious Gaming and Gamification Education in Health Professions: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2019 Mar 28;21(3):e12994. doi: 10.2196/12994.

    PMID: 30920375BACKGROUND
  • Sardi L, Idri A, Fernandez-Aleman JL. A systematic review of gamification in e-Health. J Biomed Inform. 2017 Jul;71:31-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2017.05.011. Epub 2017 May 20.

    PMID: 28536062BACKGROUND
  • Hagel S, Reischke J, Kesselmeier M, Winning J, Gastmeier P, Brunkhorst FM, Scherag A, Pletz MW. Quantifying the Hawthorne Effect in Hand Hygiene Compliance Through Comparing Direct Observation With Automated Hand Hygiene Monitoring. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2015 Aug;36(8):957-62. doi: 10.1017/ice.2015.93. Epub 2015 Apr 23.

    PMID: 25903555BACKGROUND
  • World Health Organization (WHO). 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene. May 2009. https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Your_5_Moments_For_Hand_Hygiene_Poster.pdf (accessed 8 Feb 2021).

    BACKGROUND
  • Leung AYM, Leung DYP, Lau TK, Liu JYW, Cheung T, Cheung DSK, Lam SC, Wong EML, Tse MMY, Molassiotis A. Efficacy of the Web-Based Gamified Infection Control Training System on Practices for Health Care Workers in Residential Care Homes: Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Serious Games. 2025 Nov 27;13:e71593. doi: 10.2196/71593.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, ViralPneumoniaRespiratory Tract InfectionsInfectionsVirus DiseasesCoronavirus InfectionsCoronaviridae InfectionsNidovirales InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsLung DiseasesRespiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

  • Angela Leung, PhD

    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
Research team members who are responsible for data collection and involved in data analysis will be blinded to the group allocation.
Purpose
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: 20 clusters (Residentials care homes, RCHs) involved in the study will be randomly allocated to two study groups (the intervention group, IG; and the control group, CG). All of the healthcare personnel in one cluster will receive the assigned treatment in the study group accordingly. All units in one RCH will be grouped as IG or CG. Group designations will be decided by a computer-generated randomization list using a free online generator by a statistician in the research team (DYPL) and will have no potential contact with the participants of the study. An opaque, numbered envelope containing a code generated by computerized randomizations will be prepared by a project assistant unconnected to this study. The random coding will also be concealed from the participants and outcome assessors to be involved in the assessments. A standardized checklist will be used for outcome measurements to minimize bias.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor; Deputy Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services; Director of Centre for Gerontological Nursing (CGN)

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 25, 2021

First Posted

March 4, 2021

Study Start

June 1, 2021

Primary Completion

March 31, 2022

Study Completion

March 31, 2022

Last Updated

May 12, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations