GAME ON! Games for young people with chronic kidney disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
GAME ON! Games and gamification to improve self-management in children and young people with a chronic kidney disease
IRAS ID
243000
Contact name
Arvind Nagra
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
40190, University of Southampton Research Governance
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Empowering children and young people with a chronic condition, by making sure they have the knowledge and skills to manage their health, is key to successful transition from paediatrics to adult care as they get older, and ensures good health outcomes. We at Southampton Children’s Hospital have developed and successfully implemented a transition programme called ‘Ready Steady Go’ (RSG) that empowers patients. RSG is being widely adopted across the UK.
We have developed a new and stimulating online prototype game to support the learning and skills delivered in RSG. The game was developed with young people who live with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of our study is to refine, test and release the game to work alongside RSG.
The purpose of the game is to empower young people to self-manage aspects of their condition by including activities that require knowledge of CKD as well as self-management strategies, including for example reaching fluid target, eating an appropriate diet, and taking medication whilst undertaking exciting tasks or activities in the game. These elements will gain rewards if achieved, and have consequences if missed.
In our study, together with young people, we will refine the look and design of the prototype (interface and features) as well as tasks that need to be completed (knowledge and skills). We will ask 15 young people to take part in two workshops. The refined game will then be tested in clinical practice with 36 young people, so that we can assess the usefulness of the game with a larger group in clinical and home settings. Finally, we will engage with clinicians and charitable organisations to ensure that the game achieves maximum uptake and use in clinical practice.
This work will lead to a step change in the application of online games in healthcare.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0106
Date of REC Opinion
26 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion