Games for Health Journal最新文献

Implementing nonstigmatized mental health interventions and tools within community programs serving diverse populations may reduce inequities in access to mental health care and preventative emotional learning. One potentially impactful tool is Mightier, a heart rate biofeedback-based videogame that aims to foster emotion regulation skills and practice through game play. In a randomized controlled trial, the present study evaluated the efficacy of Mightier when utilized in a community setting. Seventy-two children (ages 7-12) from a low-cost community summer camp were randomly assigned to play Mightier for 6 weeks or continue camp activities as usual. All campers participated in biweekly social and emotional learning groups. Participants exhibited significantly greater levels of adaptive emotion regulation and lower levels of emotional dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing behaviors after the intervention. Caregivers of participants in the intervention group also reported significantly less parenting-related stress after the intervention. When incorporated into community programs, biofeedback-based videogames can foster emotional intelligence competencies in children without access to traditional mental health services.

Introduction: Cognitive Behavioral Immersion (CBI) is a novel cognitive-behavioral skills program delivered by lay coaches in the metaverse through immersive virtual reality technology. Objectives: The objective for this study was to run a feasibility and pilot study of CBI for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. Methods: Data from 48 participants were used and program usage was assessed. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires assessing affect, perceived online social support, and group therapy alliance throughout their participation in the program. Structured qualitative interviews were also conducted with a subset of participants (n = 11) to understand the feasibility of the novel program. Results: Participants experienced a significant increase in their positive affect and non-significant decrease in their negative affect during their most recently attended session. Participants also experienced a nonsignificant increase in online social support across their participation in the program. Structured qualitative interviews revealed eight primary themes, including both advantages (community, psychoeducational impact, immersion, comparability with other interventions, coping in the pandemic, and anonymity) and areas of improvement (challenges and technological usability) of the program. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary support for the feasibility and potential effects of CBI and its incorporation of lay coaches to lead cognitive-behavioral skills groups in the metaverse. Future research is encouraged to examine the feasibility and efficacy of this program for a broader array of clinical presentations.

Objective: To present the design, development, and pilot testing of Connections, an empirically derived cooperative card game intervention to reduce loneliness and enhance connection. Materials and Methods: Theory and empirical evidence from domains such as self-disclosure, interpersonal closeness, and serious games informed the design of this game. Iterative design was used to develop the intervention, followed by feasibility and preliminary efficacy pilot testing. Results: Pilot testing showed that participants felt confident playing the game and found Connections to be enjoyable, interesting, and helpful in building connections with others, and would recommend the game to others. Preliminary evaluation found statistically significant benefits across multiple domains after playing the game. Participants reported decreases in loneliness, depressed mood, and anxiousness (ps < 0.02). Additionally, participants reported increases in looking forward to forming new connections with others in the future, the degree to which they felt like opening up and talking to others, and the amount they felt like they had in common with others (ps < 0.05). Conclusion: Pilot testing of Connections demonstrated feasibility and preliminary impact among a community sample. Future development plans include minor revisions to the game instructions followed by more rigorous testing of the feasibility, usability, and efficacy of Connections among various settings and populations, with large samples and controlled trials.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of exergames added to a conventional physical therapy (CPT) program on functional fitness and dynamometric muscle performance for the sit-to-stand (STS) maneuver in older adults and to compare their results concerning a CPT-only intervention. Materials and Methods: Fifty independent older adults were randomly assigned to CPT and exergames (CPT+ExG group; n = 25; age = 71.8 ± 6.8 years) or CPT alone (CPT group; n = 25; age = 71.3 ± 7.4 years). CPT was performed twice a week (60 min/session) for 8 weeks. The CPT+ExG group added exergames for 30 minutes in each session. The Senior Fitness Test was applied, considering the 30-second chair stand test as the primary outcome. Additionally, dynamometric muscle performance during the STS maneuver was assessed. Results: The CPT+ExG group improved the 30-second chair stand (lower body strength), back scratch (upper body flexibility), and 8-foot up-and-go (agility/dynamic balance) tests (all P < 0.05). Both groups improved the kinetic dynamometric variables peak force, peak power, and total work (all P < 0.05). Also, both groups improved the 30-second arm curl test (upper body strength) (P < 0.05), although the increase was higher in the CPT+ExG group compared with the CPT group (time × group; P < 0.05). Conclusion: Adding exergames to a CPT program only significantly increases upper limb strength compared with CPT alone. The findings of this study have implications for the design of future exergame interventions focused on improving STS maneuver performance in older adults.

Objective: Self-care is essential to improving heart failure patient outcomes. However, the knowledge and behaviours necessary for self-care decision making, such as symptom perception and management, are complex and require patient education. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a web-based, gamified heart failure patient education solution, Heart Self-Care Patient Education (HeartSCaPE), that used narrative and virtual reward gamification techniques. Materials and Methods: This mixed-methods study used a pre-post-test design with an embedded explanatory qualitative phase. Patients completed the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, that measured self-care behaviour change and the Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale, used to measure heart failure knowledge. Usability measures of HeartSCaPE were tracked using Google Analytics and the System Usability Scale. Results: Nineteen patients completed the study, with a subset of six participating in semi-structured interviews. We found increases in HF knowledge despite high baseline knowledge scores. Post-intervention self-reported HF self-care behaviours (maintenance, management and confidence), as measured by the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, were also improved. Knowledge and self-care scores were not correlated. Participants also scored HeartSCaPE as highly usable. In interviews, participants described valuing the opportunity to practice self-care decision-making. There were mixed opinions regarding the use of virtual rewards. Conclusion: We found that a gamified web-based solution that uses narrative and reward-based gamification techniques has the potential to improve HF patient knowledge and self-care. Further research is needed to confirm the study's clinical benefits and address technology literacy inequities.

Introduction: We investigated the effects of an exergames-based exercise program for older adults, and its benefits on their physical literacy (PL) domains, such as physical (mobility skills), affective (motivation and confidence), cognitive (knowledge about physical activity [PA]), and behavioral (daily exertion) when compared with a conventional exercise program and no training (NT) (control). Material and Methods: Forty older adults (mean age 72 years) volunteered and were randomized within three groups-exergame training (ET; n = 15), conventional training (CT; n = 14), and NT (n = 11). ET group performed training sessions based on a commercially available exergame console, while the CT group enrolled in a convention exercise program (aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility exercises). The training program was conducted three times a week for 6 weeks. The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Exercise Confidence Survey (ECS), Motives for Physical Activity Measure-Revised (MPAM-R), Knowledge and Understanding Questionnaire (K&UQ), and total PA tracking (using wearable technology) were used as the study's outcomes. Outcome variables were measured at preintervention (week 0), postintervention (week 6), and at the time of final follow-up (week 9). Results: We observed a reduction in the ET TUG time at postintervention and follow-up. Also, a significant main effect for group and moment of measurement was observed for the Fitness-Health subscore, derived from MPAM-R. The values demonstrated by ET and CT were statistically different (P = 0.01) and a within-group comparison revealed significant differences in the ET from preintervention to both postintervention and follow-up (both, P = 0.01). We did not observe any other significant difference. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a 6-week exergame-based training program may have the potential in improving the physical and affective domains of PL in community-dwelling older adults. The topics related to fitness and health seem to be of interest in this population and programs can make use of them to improve the PL domains.

Objective: To analyze the influence of exergaming (EXE) quality of life, cancer-related fatigue (CRF), electromyography, and strength and endurance muscle in a randomized crossover trial. Methods: We conducted a single-blinded, randomized, and crossover trial, which included 38 cancer volunteers undergoing chemotherapy (Age = 60.07 ± 12.10 years; body mass index = 26.79 ± 5.33 kg/m²). All volunteers were randomized into two intervention moments: EXE and without intervention (WI) and after 1-month washout period of crossing of the evaluated moments. The intervention was performed on an EXE protocol using Xbox 360 Kinect^®, with the game "Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012" two to three times per week for 20 sessions. All volunteers were assessed the CRF and quality-of-life levels through the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) questionnaire, the median frequency (MDF) by surface electromyography, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and the muscle endurance time at 80% MVIC of the dorsiflexors and plantar flexors using dynamometer. Results: In the comparison between EXE and WI moments, were observed increase in the scores for quality of life (P < 0.001), subscale fatigue (P < 0.001), in the MDF values of right lateral gastrocnemius muscles: P = 0.017, muscle endurance time (left dorsiflexion [LDF]: P < 0.001; right dorsiflexion [RDF]: P < 0.001; left plantar flexion [LPF]: P < 0.001; RPF: P = 0.039), and muscle strength (LDF: P < 0.001; RDF: P < 0.001; LPF: P = 0.002). Conclusion: The crossover study, the EXE protocol promoted improvement in cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and quality of life, increased MVIC, endurance time, and MDF values of the dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscles of cancer volunteers undergoing chemotherapy.

Objective: With the elements of competition and reward, digital game-based learning is reportedly more effective than traditional instruction methods. Moreover, children with attention problems are reportedly often interested in internet games. We hypothesized that digital game-based learning can improve the effectiveness of educational opportunities in Russian immigrant children and could be more effective in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) compared with other children. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as an 8-week crossover study that comprised 4 weeks of game rounds and 4 weeks of control rounds for two groups. Wise-Ax™ is a casual digital game for vocabulary education among Russian immigrant children. To develop the game, 1200 Korean words were selected from the word pool suggested by the Korean Government's Department of Education. A total of 26 students participated in the study. At 4 and 8 weeks, all students took the Korean language ability tests. Results: The study found that more than 80% of the children were satisfied with their digital game-based Korean education, which greatly improved their Korean language ability compared with the traditional teaching methods. Children with ADHD showed a greater increase in the Korean ability test compared with children without ADHD in the game round. Conclusion: Wise-Ax could be an effective tool to help improve the Korean language ability of Russian immigrant children, especially those with ADHD.

Objective: Muscle strength and balance impairment change the control strategy and increase the probability of falling. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 6-week strength-balance training through virtual reality exergaming (VRE) on muscle strategy during the limits of stability (LOS) test, fear of falling, and quality of life (QOL) in osteoporotic women. Materials and Methods: Twenty volunteer postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were randomly allocated to the VRE (n = 10) and traditional training (TRT as control, n = 10) groups. The VRE and TRT strength-balance training was performed for 6 weeks and three sessions per week. Before and after exercise, the muscle activity (onset time, peak root means square [PRMS]) and hip/ankle activity ratio were assessed by the wireless electromyography system. The muscle activities of the dominant leg were recorded during LOS functional test. The fall efficacy scale and QOL were assessed. Paired t-test was used to compare results within groups, and an independent t-test was used to compare the percentage changes in parameters between the two groups. Results: The VRE improved the onset time and PRMS. The VRE significantly reduced the hip/ankle activity ratio in the LOS test's forward, backward, and right directions (P < 0.05). No significant change was seen in all directions of the LOS functional test in the TRT group (P > 0.05). VRE reduced the fall efficacy scale (P = 0.042). Both VRT and TRT improved the total QOL score (P = 0.010). Conclusion: VRE was more effective in decreasing the onset time and hip/ankle ratio of muscle activation. The VRE is recommended to induce a better ability to reduce the fear of falling and control balance during functional activity in osteoporotic women. Clinical Trial Registration number: IRCT20101017004952N9.