Heart at Risk: Electronic Educational Game With Information on Doping in Athletes

Abstract

Introduction Games are recognized tools that can be used for teaching, awareness-building and behavioral change. In the world of competitive sports, it is necessary to both educate athletes and make them aware that doping is an unsportsmanlike practice, particularly because this conduct can be life-threatening. A game called “Heart at Risk” was developed in this context for the purpose of teaching athletes which substances are characterized as doping by the World Antidoping Agency, and to raise their awareness of health hazards through entertainment. Objective Present and empirically evaluate the efficacy of the game as a tool for educating athletes on substances characterized as doping. Methods The sample group was formed by 20 players in the under-20 category of Clube do Remo (Rowing Club), aged over 18 years. The athletes underwent a pre-test, played the Heart at Risk game, and took a post-test at the end. Both tests were related to healthy sport practices (positive factors) and to doping substances (negative factors). Results Regarding the knowledge of positive factors, there was an increase of knowledge in relation to low doses of caffeine (∆ = 40%; p-value= 0.0125) and doping assessment (∆ = 55%; p-value = 0.0017). Regarding negative factors, there was an increase of knowledge in relation to diuretics (∆ = 25%; p-value = 0.0455), contaminated thermogenic (∆ = 35%; p-value = 0.0191), growth hormone-GH (∆ = 50%; p-value = 0.0025), contaminated supplements (∆ = 65%; p-value = 0.0007), and testosterone (∆ = 55%; p-value = 0.0017). Conclusion The Heart at Risk game proved to be an effective resource in the process of learning about prohibited substances and positive factors for sports performance. Level of Evidence IV; Case series.

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