We explored the concept of “Serious Games,” video games designed to promote health-related knowledge, behaviors, and skills beyond entertainment. Our review highlights their application in areas like patient education, behavior change, and medical training. By integrating user-centered design principles with behavioral science, Serious Games represent a promising tool for engaging users and addressing healthcare challenges.
What was the context of our study?
Video games have become a significant part of everyday life, especially among younger generations. While typically associated with entertainment, their immersive and interactive qualities make them ideal for educational and training purposes. In healthcare, Serious Games are emerging as a strategy to enhance learning and behavior change for both patients and professionals. However, awareness and understanding of their potential remain limited among healthcare stakeholders.
What did we do?
We reviewed existing research and case studies on the design and application of Serious Games in healthcare. Using examples from domains like mental health, chronic disease management, and medical education, we analyzed the key elements that contribute to the effectiveness of these games. We also identified design principles and theoretical frameworks underpinning their success.
What did we find?
Serious Games effectively combine engaging gameplay with educational content. Games facilitate active learning and skill acquisition through interactive scenarios. By providing feedback and modeling positive behaviors, games can influence habits and attitudes. Elements like storylines, rewards, and progressively challenging tasks enhance motivation and retention. Examples include cognitive training for elderly patients, emotional recognition for autism, and surgical skills training for medical professionals. Challenges include balancing “fun” with “serious” objectives, ensuring scientific validity, and addressing user expectations for entertainment and usability.
Why is this important?
As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, Serious Games offer a unique avenue for engaging patients and professionals in meaningful ways. They can address gaps in traditional education and support behavior change in ways that are scalable and cost-effective. Greater awareness and rigorous assessment of these tools will help integrate them into mainstream healthcare practices.
Reference
Giunti G, Baum A, Giunta D, Plazzotta F, Benitez S, Gómez A, Luna D, González Bernaldo de Quiros F. Serious Games: A Concise Overview on What They Are and Their Potential Applications to Healthcare. MEDINFO 2015: eHealth-enabled Health. https://ebooks.iospress.nl/volumearticle/40235