Exploring possibilities to partially transform simulation exercises into interactive games on OpenWHO.org digitizing live role-playing game exercises online for epidemics and health emergency work

Abstract

Training responders for outbreaks and health emergencies is one of the key functions of the Health Emergencies Programme of the World Health Organization (WHO). Staff trainings include, in some instances, intensive live role-play simulation exercises, in which responders are trained for disease outbreaks with a large training faculty and mentoring. This staff involvement cannot be fully replaced, as it is criticalfor performance assessment. However, if some live elements can be even partially replaced by online-supported formats, it can provide for more content-aligned, structured and replicable exercises while also creating cost efficiencies and reaching larger audiences. HPI together with the Transfer of Knowledge Team of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme is therefore exploring how to digitize parts of such training exercises. The goal of this paper is to identify and suggest how parts of one sample intensive staff training exercise could be replaced by online exercises. One staff training simulation exercise was observed and is used as an example for this purpose. For digitizing parts of the intense simulation training, the existing learning platform OpenWHO — which already provides frontline responder online training — could be further developed. OpenWHO is operated by the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI).