Innovative Tool to Limit Spread of COVID 19 in Residential Aged Care Facilities

This project is a randomised trial in order to determine if "gamification" can result in behaviour change for healthcare workers in the residential aged care setting. The app is for Age Care and care workers at the front line who are working to protect those most vulnerable to COVID-19. There are 2 groups in this trial on group will receive current and accurate information from an app. The other group will receives the app with the addition of a gamification competent, this will include rewarding experiences for staff doing safety behaviours and wellbeing behaviours. The purpose of the gamification is to create a calming and reassuring experience that injects positivity and joy where possible during this stressful time.

The study design will be a multi- centre cluster randomised control trial, where Age Care facilities are randomised into two groups: Newsfeed- gets the app with newsfeed only Gamification group- gets the full gamified app, including the newsfeed Workers in our network of residential aged care facilities will be invited to participate in a study of communication of information regarding COVID-19 and how they will play a role in preventing its spread.

The gamification function will allow users to earn points for actions completed. The gamification function has links to resources for infection control, watching or completing tasks or playing games to earn points. Points can be viewed at a facility level, state level or national level.

To compare the hours of sick leave used over the course of the 4-week period post randomisation for each group

Compare the number of sick leave prior to users utilising the app and at the end of the 4 weeks between the arms

Compare the awareness of PPE training of the workers in the two arms, this is captured in self reported survey

Compare the wellbeing and self-efficacy between the two arms, this is captured in a self reported survey.