Using e-health games to improve health literacy about heart attack, stroke and common medical terminology utilizing a Library website and the virtual world of Second Life.

1. GAMING TO IMPROVE HEALTH LITERACY
Utilizing a Library Website and the Virtual World of Second Life
Elisabeth Marrapodi, Library Director, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ
DESIGN RESULTS KEY SURVEY QUESTION
OBJECTIVE
E-Health Games: Total Games played globally: 1500+.
To determine if e-health games can improve
•10 Multiple Choice Questions on each topic Total post-quiz survey returns: 299 (20%)
health information literacy about heart
attack, stroke and basic medical terminology •Answers provided at end
and potentially influence future consumer •Video links & other resources Largest Age Group 18-30
health care decisions. •Post-Quiz Survey: 9 questions Library Website 38.1%
Second Life 38.6%
•Voluntary, confidential, anonymous
INTRO Second Largest Age Group 41-50
Games on Library Website
Nearly 72% of the US population went online Library Website 25.0%
Second Life 19.1%
to look up health information online in 2010.
Gender Male Female
Heart Attack: every 20 seconds in U.S. Library Website 14.3% 85.7%
Stroke: every 40 seconds in U.S. Second Life 30% 70.0%
Over 90 million people in the U.S. do not
understand health information Highest Grade Level Earned
METHODS Library Website High School Diploma 26.2%
Second Life Graduate degree 37.1%
Study: IRB approved e-health game study
Nursing Advisory Team: Cardiology, Primary Language
Library Website English 72.0%
Neurology, Education
Second Life English 74.6%
CONCLUSIONS
Settings: Library Website & Second Life
Games in Second Life at Infolit iSchool E-health games can be a fun, engaging way
Hosted Game Sites in Second Life: Did You Learn Anything New? to improve health literacy and potentially
Univ of Sheffield Infolit iSchool, Bradley Univ influence consumer health decision making.
Heart Attack Yes No While traditional websites remain a viable
Library, Univ of Illinois College of Medicine,
Library Website 65.0% 35.0% and valuable resource for consumer health
Montclair State Univ, Ann Myers Virtual Second Life 50.0% 50.0%
Medical Center, HealthInfo Island outreach, innovative emerging technology
Stroke Yes No platforms such as immersive virtual reality
Participant Population Pool: Library Website 61.9% 38.1% worlds, offer unique opportunities for
Library Website: Community at large Second Life 55.6% 44.4% maximizing outreach and show promise as
Second Life: 70K+ people (avatars) e-health tools.
Medical Terminology Yes No
Library Website 70.0% 30.0%
Promotion: social networking tools, blog, RECOMMENDED READING
Second Life 75.6% 24.4%
Healthy People 2010
newsletters, online TV show, conferences
Webber, J. et al. (2010) “Learning in a Virtual World: Experience with
Funding: NN/NLM MAR Small Projects Using Second Life for Medical Education.” J Med Internet Res ,12(1 ).
Award, Infinium Community Outreach www.secondlife.com
RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012
www.PosterPresentations.com