Gamification, a Successful Method to Foster Leptospirosis Knowledge among University Students: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that has been reported in Malaysia and has been associated with a recent trend of recreational activities among the youth. Thus, efforts such as educational interventions among high-risk populations, especially the youth, are key to increasing public awareness regarding leptospirosis. This paper presents the findings of a pilot study wherein an educational intervention using a gamification intervention method was used to determine changes in leptospirosis knowledge among youth. On this note, students from a public university in Seremban district, Malaysia, were recruited and were asked to complete questionnaires before and after gamification activities. Baseline and immediate post-intervention data on leptospirosis knowledge were obtained. The total knowledge score was calculated, and differences in the mean pre- and post-intervention knowledge score were determined. Of the total 185 questionnaires that were completed at baseline and immediately post-intervention, only 168 that belonged to respondents who had heard of leptospirosis were analysed in this paper. A significant increase in leptospirosis knowledge was observed for the students following health education by gamification (p < 0.01). The results demonstrate the effectiveness of an educational intervention using gamification in improving leptospirosis knowledge among youth and suggest that gamification could become an efficient tool to prevent the disease within university-age demographics.

How Gameful Experience Affects Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding COVID-19 Among the Taiwanese Public: Cross-sectional Study

“…Participants who have played Plague Inc. displayed higher levels of knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19. Health education implemented through gameful experience has been proven to effectively enhance knowledge of leptospirosis [43]. In addition, integrating gamified media into medical education courses has been shown to effectively improve knowledge and skill performance among nursing students [44][45][46].…”

Sociodemographic, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with the incidence of leptospirosis in highlands of Ponorogo Regency, Province of East Java, Indonesia

“…31 The low level of knowledge and education about the dangers of leptospirosis can lead to a decrease in the level of awareness about leptospirosis, so that leptospirosis can easily spread among the community. 32 Human behavior factors are aspects that determine human activity . Based on the results of the study in table 2, it is known that the majority of leptospirosis sufferers have a lower level of knowledge, and poor practice of leptospirosis prevention.…”

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices regarding Leptospirosis among Visitors to a Recreational Forest in Malaysia

“…43 In addition, the development and implementation of gamification is a promising and interactive approach to increase knowledge on health information by involving the participants in various activities. 44 – 46 Gamification modules such as role play, puzzles, goal-oriented activities, and social media engagement have been applied successfully to increase knowledge among university students in Malaysia regarding leptospirosis. 46 …”

“… 44 – 46 Gamification modules such as role play, puzzles, goal-oriented activities, and social media engagement have been applied successfully to increase knowledge among university students in Malaysia regarding leptospirosis. 46 …”