Queen’s University Belfast
Flu Bee Game increases intention to get vaccinated by 84%.

There is limited research and guidance, about influenza knowledge and vaccination, amongst nursing students. In 2018/19 QUB carried out a study to evaluate the effect of Flu Bee Game on nursing student knowledge and uptake of the influenza vaccination.

430 nursing students played the game and completed an 8-item questionnaire about their attitudes to influenza. From this sample 356 nursing students completed a 2-item questionnaire about their uptake of the influenza vaccination.

The study found that 84% of students that did NOT intend to get vaccinated before playing the game changed their mind after playing the game:

BEFORE playing Flu Bee Game 161 students did not intend to get vaccinated

AFTER playing Flu Bee Game 136 of those students decided to get vaccinated

“…knowledge and likelihood to get vaccinated improved after playing the game…an innovative learning tool associated with highly statistically significant improvements in knowledge.”
Dr Gary Mitchell.

NHS Tayside
33% of staff had a more positive perception of the flu vaccine after playing Flu Bee Game.

NHS Tayside employs over 12,000 staff and is responsible for 3 major hospitals, a number of community hospitals, over 60 GP surgeries and a variety of health centres. In 2018/19 NHS Tayside trialled a customised Flu Bee package to establish whether it could improve vaccine uptake among staff. Feedback was gathered during the staff flu campaign and a report submitted to the Scottish Government. Here are the highlights:

The Flu Bee website was visited 2,533 times by 2,337 users representing 18% of total staff population (n=12,779) and 34% of the vaccinated population (n=6,811). Nurses and midwives were the main users of the game but other staff groupings may not have been aware of the game because promotion was limited. The game’s license is not linked to a defined number of players thus in the future we should consider more advertising to ensure this marketing tool is fully utilised.

Survey results

The average user spent 3 mins 24 secs interacting with Flu Bee.
Staff spent a total of 8,612.2 minutes interacting with Flu Bee (143.5 hours).
The cost of the Flu Bee package is £1,000 (exc VAT) which equates to £0.11 per minute or £6.96 per hour of staff interaction with Flu Bee.
On average it cost £0.42 for 3 minutes and 24 seconds of an individual employee’s time and attention.

Usage Data

298 staff members responded to a survey after playing the game.

• 81% enjoyed playing Flu Bee Game
• 33% had a more positive perception of the flu vaccine after playing Flu Bee Game

“Absolutely brilliant way of engaging employees and a great example of gamification”
Anonymous user.

“I had to think hard about some of the questions - I didn't know all the answers!”
Anonymous user.

Discussion

Overall, the responses to the game could be viewed as positive and most people found it a fun, interactive and informative platform. If the game encouraged >30% of staff to change their minds about flu vaccination…it has the potential to impact more staff who are reticent about being vaccinated. There is some evidence that targeting this population may increase uptake figures further.

Engaging staff is a vital ingredient in a successful vaccination campaign. Flu Bee provides a fun, informative interactive media platform that engages, educates and encourages staff directly.

NHS Survey

In 2018/19 Flu Bee was used in 20+ NHS trusts in England. 1,801 members of staff (from all staff groups) completed a questionnaire after playing the game.

• 28% of staff had an improved perception of the flu vaccination after playing Flu Bee Game.

“Strangely addictive. A great way to learn facts about flu”
Emergency Department Clinical Lead

GHT Loire Flu Bee Study

In 2019/20 Flu Bee Game was tested by a hospital group in France to discover if it would improve vaccine uptake among staff members.

• 38% increase in flu vaccination.
• 30% reversal of vaccine hesitancy.
• Improved perception of vaccination.

GHT Loire is a hospital group based in the Loire region of France. It operates from 19 different sites, including 3 major hospitals, and employs 15,000 health professionals.

In total, 11 sites trialled the Flu Bee Game to support their staff flu vaccination promotional campaign. The intention was to establish whether the game would increase vaccine uptake.

To promote the game to staff GHT used pop-up banners, posters and stickers provided by Focus Games. The game was also promoted via email and internal social media.

RESULTS

At the end of every game players were invited to complete short questionnaire to gather their thoughts and conclusions about the game and its effect on them. 262 members of staff completed the questionnaire.

The survey's results were predominantly positive.

• 80% of respondents enjoyed playing the game.
• 38% overall increase in vaccination rates from previous year.
• 58% reported an increase in their vaccine knowledge.
• 30% of players with vaccine hesitancy decided to get vaccinated.

"Flu Bee Game has enabled us to improve and expand our communication campaign around flu vaccination with members of staff. We are very pleased with these encouraging results; we will certainly be using Flu Bee Game in future staff vaccination campaigns."
CHU de Saint-Etienne