Using Digital Games and Game Technologies to Promote Fitness Debra Lieberman, Ph.D. UC Santa Barbara...

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Using Digital Games and Game Technologies to Promote Fitness Debra Lieberman, Ph.D. UC Santa Barbara and Health Games Research Best Practices in Fitness Promotion Conference Santa Barbara County Public Health May 11, 2012

Transcript of Using Digital Games and Game Technologies to Promote Fitness Debra Lieberman, Ph.D. UC Santa Barbara...

Page 1: Using Digital Games and Game Technologies to Promote Fitness Debra Lieberman, Ph.D. UC Santa Barbara and Health Games Research Best Practices in Fitness.

Using Digital Games and Game Technologies to Promote Fitness

Debra Lieberman, Ph.D.

UC Santa Barbara and Health Games Research

Best Practices in Fitness Promotion Conference

Santa Barbara County Public Health

May 11, 2012

Page 2: Using Digital Games and Game Technologies to Promote Fitness Debra Lieberman, Ph.D. UC Santa Barbara and Health Games Research Best Practices in Fitness.

Well designed games are: Powerful experiences

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Interactive

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Immersive

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Challenging and motivating

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Mission-driven, goal-driven

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Rewarding, fun

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Boost knowledge and skills

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Give feedback andchances to try again

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Social

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Inter-generational

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Therapeutic

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Springboards for discussion and support

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Icebreakers that fostercloser relationships

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Networked, mobile, always available

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Tools and sensors expand game design options

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Being a character or helping a character influences self-concepts, attitudes about health

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Rehearsal and success improve self confidence

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Diabetes

Smoking prevention

Asthma

Interactive video games for health behavior change

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Clinical Trial ResultsMedical Informatics, 22(1), 1997

• Stanford and Kaiser outpatients• 59 diabetic children, ages 8 - 16• Randomized, controlled• 6-month trial• Voluntary, at-home use• 34 hours of play per child

0

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Months

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al V

isit

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Control

Packy

urgent care and ER visits 77% reduction in

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Research gives us:

Behavioral health strategies

Learning strategies

Evidence – did the game improve health behaviors and outcomes? How?

Principles of health game design

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Can playing digital games improve our health? Yes! Studies find improvements in:

Healthy eating, physical activity, weight loss

Cancer prevention, alcohol relapse prevention, smoking prevention

Self-management of chronic diseases

Adherence: Following one’s treatment plan

Cognitive skills

Physical therapy, phobia therapy

Clinical skills … and much more

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Active games – Exergames

Exergames – require physical exertion to play

Dance pads (DDR), cameras (Xbox Kinect)

Many studies find that they are motivating and they help with weight loss, aerobic fitness

Positive impacts on social relationships, school engagement and performance, self-concepts

Possible “gateway” to a physically active lifestyle

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Active games – Mobile games

Sensors and network support fitness activities

Gather data about steps, distance, location, heart rate

Local company: DigiFit

RunKeeper, Nike Plus, Zamzee, FitBit

Links to social network, for social support

Can be motivating, supportive, effective

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Nutrition Games

Cooking, quizzes, food groups, grocery shopping, meal planning, safe food handling, calorie counting, portion control

Escape from Diab, Squire’s Quest, Amazing Food Detective, Nutrition Sleuth, Dining Decisions, Perfect Plate, Snack Dash, Lunch Crunch

Research finds that Escape from Diab and Squire’s Quest increase fruit & vegetable servings per day

We need better nutrition games – great potential

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Use the online, searchableHealth Games Research Database

www.healthgamesresearch.org/db

Health gamesPublicationsResources

OrganizationsEvents

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Thank you!Learn more at:

www.healthgamesresearch.org

Funded by the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Debra Lieberman, Ph.D.Director, Health Games Research

UC Santa Barbara