Management of chronic pediatric diseases with interactive health games: theory and research findings

J Ambul Care Manage. 2001 Jan;24(1):26-38. doi: 10.1097/00004479-200101000-00004.

Abstract

In randomized clinical trials, children and adolescents improved their self care and reduced their emergency clinical utilization after playing health education and disease management video games. A diabetes game reduced diabetes-related urgent and emergency visits by 77 percent after diabetic youngsters had the game at home for six months, compared to no reduction in clinical utilization in a control group of diabetic youngsters who took home an entertainment video game that had no health content. Positive impacts were also found in clinical trials of games for asthma self-management and smoking prevention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Asthma / therapy
  • Child
  • Chronic Disease / therapy*
  • Communication
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy
  • Disease Management*
  • Emergencies / epidemiology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Self Care / standards*
  • Self Efficacy
  • Smoking Prevention
  • Video Games / psychology*
  • Video Games / supply & distribution