Using an interactive visual novel to promote patient empowerment through engagement

Abstract

In this paper we describe a prototype of a serious game designed to improve hospital patients' confidence in managing their hospital stay. We present findings of an evaluation of our visual novel computer game by comparing it with traditional approaches to increasing patient empowerment and patient self-efficacy. The results indicated a significant effect of the type of intervention on improvement in empowerment, but only for participants with gaming experience or who achieved a high level of engagement in the game. This study provides evidence that games may outperform other types of health intervention under certain conditions.

Preventing anorexia nervosa through Cognitive-Behavioral feedback in an affective game

“…And we found Visual Novels, a sub-genre of Adventure Games that has interesting characters, multi-branching storylines, and puzzles, among other affordances [8,21]. Unlike other gaming styles, Visual Novels concentrate in the character's emotional development, and estimate performance based on the player's emotional skills increase [8].…”

“…In the past, visual novels were used to help patients to get used to treatment and life at hospital facilities [21]. Our work differs from [21] in the following: (1) our main goal was the prevention of a mental disorder, (2) we followed guidelines from CBT, (3) we added affective components to our tool, and (4) we took advantage of the game's visual, narrative and interactive affordances.…”

“…Our work differs from [21] in the following: (1) our main goal was the prevention of a mental disorder, (2) we followed guidelines from CBT, (3) we added affective components to our tool, and (4) we took advantage of the game's visual, narrative and interactive affordances. Our approach differs from other affective games in the fact that we sense and interpret the cognitive and related behavioral effects produced by exposure to stimuli, and our goal is the prevention of a mental disorder [1,2,13].…”

InFection Four: Development of a Youth-Informed Sexual Health Card Game

“…For example, the interactive "visual novel" The Time Mage invites players to make decisions in a fictional hospital setting in order to increase patients' confidence and empowerment during hospital stays (Yin, Ring, & Bickmore, 2012). SPARX, a roleplaying videogame, uses a cognitive behavioral framework to intervene in the treatment of clinical depression (Merry et al, 2012).…”

Know before you go

“…In the few studies specific to flow, it has been found that 1) older adults experienced more flow when playing other humans online, compared to playing against other humans disguised as computer controlled players [12], 2) a match between older adult ability/experience and game challenge has been related to feelings of flow [20], 3) clear goals and feedback in a game may foster a sense of mastery associated with flow in older adults [4], and 4) flow in games for older adults has been related to better therapeutic outcomes [35]. These studies suggest benefits for flow, but there is a paucity of studies concerning user experience outcomes, including flow, for older players.…”