Speakers at Games for Health Europe Conference 2014

1. Knowledge transfer for patients with chronic pain
Harriet Wittink and Anita Cremers
Utrecht University of Applied Sciences
Research groups
‘Lifestyle and Health’ and ‘Co-design’

2. 2
Size of the problem
2.25 million Dutch people have chronic pain (1:5)
The number of patients = all diabetes + heart + cancer patients

3. 3
Education

4. 4

5. 5
Educational interactive board game with minigames
Family game
Physiotherapist at a distance
Content of minigames?

6. 6
Game design workshop with physiotherapists
Make combinations of
revalidation phase, pain education theme, learning goals, game types
Design a minigame
goal of the game
rules of the game
materials needed
mechanisms of the game
intended behavior/effect
sketch

7. 7
Results
24 participants, 7 game ideas
some insights
not only about pain, but about functioning in general
players should both gain knowledge and have fun
players should be motivated to listen to each other, patient should feel heard
for patients with a small network: possibility to play with two people, or with other pain patients
take into account the age of patients
game should allow integration in own life: smart phone, Wii, …
game should stimulate patient empowerment: player in control

8. 8
Example games
Good4You
Goal: Insight in what helps to alleviate the pain.
Mechanism: Taking care of a garden together. The garden represents the patient and calls for attention, signal goes to patient and family. If they act well, the garden grows. The garden provides food for discussion. Compare with other families.
Energy management
Goal: Learn to dosage activities through making choices.
Mechanism: Try to acquire points by answering questions; make choices for activities, receive more or less energy. Awareness of factors that give or take energy. Different platforms, also smart phone: relate to choices in real life.

9. 9
Future work
Use insights and game ideas to create prototypes of new minigames
Evaluate with physical therapists
Evaluate with chronic pain patients and families
Implement in revalidation process