Identifying a Viable Intervention to Improve Engagement and Activity through an Interactive Tool: Gaming in a New Dimension
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Abstract
Background
The topic of engagement has become increasingly important in health delivery and care. As access to information and tools to drive self-care proliferate and patients become more empowered and central in the process, gamification continues to gain traction. Few studies, however, have examined how a gaming approach influences patient behavior in a real-time clinical setting.
Objective
The objective of this study was to assess how a simple tool, made available on a mobile device, may encourage patients to become more engaged in their overall health, specifically through increased physical activity.
Methods
To conduct this study, researchers created an app called MatchMyMoves (Dande Apps, NYC), and launched it on the iTunes app store (Apple, Cupertino). The app, which was made available for free to all users, was designed to encourage movement through dance and to enhance the overall engagement and activity levels of participants. The iPhone software development kit was utilized to produce the app that interfaced with the smartphone’s internal accelerometer, its music playing capability, and the Facebook App. Multiple beta versions were produced, and troubleshooting was performed until the first version was ready for distribution on iTunes. Through the app’s link to iTunes, users could quickly and easily enter their favorite song, and record points within a scoring system associated with movement. Users could set goals to lengthen their activity, track progress, and share results with friends or healthcare professionals. Participants were asked to provide feedback on the app, as well as on general principles surrounding gaming. Specifically, participants were asked how often they regularly played games, if they had ever played a game related to health, if they thought games could be motivational, and if they felt MatchMyMoves was a game.
Results
Patient reactions to the app were very favorable. They were enthused by the idea of correlating dance with physical activity and health, and understood how it could influence participation in daily routines. They found the social media components added a positive element of engagement and motivation. Patients also felt the scoring system provided a simple way to create goals that could be developed for long-term planning. They expressed a strong desire to have other capabilities associated with the app, such as education surrounding different activities and a way to augment the presentation/delivery of music through video. Participant level of interest in and experience with gaming varied. Most felt gaming could be motivational if given in the right context and not surprisingly, did not initially perceive the app as a game. However, after viewing and using it, they felt it was a form of gaming and that it could increase engagement in their healthcare process.
Conclusions
The term gaming conjures different connotations to different audiences. In this study, we utilized a simple platform focused on the relationship between dance and physical activity, to understand the connection between engagement and activity, and how gaming might play a role. Responses overwhelmingly suggest that simple interfaces like MatchMyMoves can help patients increase activity levels, and with additional features, might become increasingly valuable in daily care.
The topic of engagement has become increasingly important in health delivery and care. As access to information and tools to drive self-care proliferate and patients become more empowered and central in the process, gamification continues to gain traction. Few studies, however, have examined how a gaming approach influences patient behavior in a real-time clinical setting.
Objective
The objective of this study was to assess how a simple tool, made available on a mobile device, may encourage patients to become more engaged in their overall health, specifically through increased physical activity.
Methods
To conduct this study, researchers created an app called MatchMyMoves (Dande Apps, NYC), and launched it on the iTunes app store (Apple, Cupertino). The app, which was made available for free to all users, was designed to encourage movement through dance and to enhance the overall engagement and activity levels of participants. The iPhone software development kit was utilized to produce the app that interfaced with the smartphone’s internal accelerometer, its music playing capability, and the Facebook App. Multiple beta versions were produced, and troubleshooting was performed until the first version was ready for distribution on iTunes. Through the app’s link to iTunes, users could quickly and easily enter their favorite song, and record points within a scoring system associated with movement. Users could set goals to lengthen their activity, track progress, and share results with friends or healthcare professionals. Participants were asked to provide feedback on the app, as well as on general principles surrounding gaming. Specifically, participants were asked how often they regularly played games, if they had ever played a game related to health, if they thought games could be motivational, and if they felt MatchMyMoves was a game.
Results
Patient reactions to the app were very favorable. They were enthused by the idea of correlating dance with physical activity and health, and understood how it could influence participation in daily routines. They found the social media components added a positive element of engagement and motivation. Patients also felt the scoring system provided a simple way to create goals that could be developed for long-term planning. They expressed a strong desire to have other capabilities associated with the app, such as education surrounding different activities and a way to augment the presentation/delivery of music through video. Participant level of interest in and experience with gaming varied. Most felt gaming could be motivational if given in the right context and not surprisingly, did not initially perceive the app as a game. However, after viewing and using it, they felt it was a form of gaming and that it could increase engagement in their healthcare process.
Conclusions
The term gaming conjures different connotations to different audiences. In this study, we utilized a simple platform focused on the relationship between dance and physical activity, to understand the connection between engagement and activity, and how gaming might play a role. Responses overwhelmingly suggest that simple interfaces like MatchMyMoves can help patients increase activity levels, and with additional features, might become increasingly valuable in daily care.
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