Feasibility of Using a Commercial Fitness Tracker as an Adjunct to Family-Based Weight Management Treatment: Pilot Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Fitness trackers can engage users through automated self-monitoring of physical activity. Studies evaluating the utility of fitness trackers are limited among adolescents, who are often difficult to engage in weight management treatment and are heavy technology users. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a pilot randomized trial to describe the impact of providing adolescents and caregivers with fitness trackers as an adjunct to treatment in a tertiary care weight management clinic on adolescent fitness tracker satisfaction, fitness tracker utilization patterns, and physical activity levels. METHODS: Adolescents were randomized to 1 of 2 groups (adolescent or dyad) at their initial weight management clinic visit. Adolescents received a fitness tracker and counseling around activity data in addition to standard treatment. A caregiver of adolescents in the dyad group also received a fitness tracker. Satisfaction with the fitness tracker, fitness tracker utilization patterns, and physical activity patterns were evaluated over 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 88 adolescents were enrolled, with 69% (61/88) being female, 36% (32/88) black, 23% (20/88) Hispanic, and 63% (55/88) with severe obesity. Most adolescents reported that the fitness tracker was helping them meet their healthy lifestyle goals (69%) and be more motivated to achieve a healthy weight (66%). Despite this, 68% discontinued use of the fitness tracker by the end of the study. There were no significant differences between the adolescent and the dyad group in outcomes, but adolescents in the dyad group were 12.2 times more likely to discontinue using their fitness tracker if their caregiver also discontinued use of their fitness tracker (95% CI 2.4-61.6). Compared with adolescents who discontinued use of the fitness tracker during the study, adolescents who continued to use the fitness tracker recorded a higher number of daily steps in months 2 and 3 of the study (mean 5760 vs 4148 in month 2, P=.005, and mean 5942 vs 3487 in month 3, P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: Despite high levels of satisfaction with the fitness trackers, fitness tracker discontinuation rates were high, especially among adolescents whose caregivers also discontinued use of their fitness tracker. More studies are needed to determine how to sustain the use of fitness trackers among adolescents with obesity and engage caregivers in adolescent weight management interventions

Does playing different game genres affect obesity levels in gamers?

This paper examines the relationship between playing various gaming genres and its effect on obesity. While previous studies have generally associated gaming with obesity, some have highlighted that certain game genres, exergames, require gamers to be physically active to play the game, leading to a reduction in gamers’ weight. To study this relationship, we conducted a survey and analyzed the collected data using ANOVA and Regression Analysis. Our preliminary findings from one-way ANOVA and two-way ANOVA with interaction, indicates significant association between game genre and engagement per session with BMI. The interaction between them suggests that the effect of game genre on BMI is dependent on the engagement per session, as the p-value of 6.54e-10 is less than the 5% significance level. Our regression results suggest that some game genres, such as Action and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), had a significant impact on obesity. However, first-person, puzzle/casual and simulation/sports games were not significantly associated with BMI. Our regression models also found that higher engagement in gaming per week and session correlates with a higher BMI. Our findings may offer game developers to collaborate with field experts, leading to evidence-based interventions that mitigate obesity risks and promote healthier gaming practices across game genres

Dance/Movement Therapy As An Intervention In The Treatment of Internet Gaming Disorder

This paper illuminates how the field of dance movement therapy can expand its reach to different populations in need of kinesthetic empathy. This heuristic review discusses the treatment option of dance/movement therapy for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Dance/movement therapy is unique in the way it addresses the personal unconscious through creative non-verbal communication. Video gaming is a worldwide pastime that is captivating and fun for millions of people although the present concern is when video gaming becomes an uncontrolled behavioral addiction. Dance/movement theorist Trudy Schoop asserted, “It is only through the body that humans experience reality.” It is this researcher’s opinion that human interaction is a vital necessity to our well-being and cannot be replaced by digital contact through devices we have created to physically separate ourselves from one another. There is currently no literature on the use of dance/movement therapy as a treatment for IGD, thus this thesis explores how video games affect our minds and bodies and proposes that dance/movement therapy can be an effective intervention

The Effect of Virtual Clinical Gaming Simulations on Student Learning Outcomes in Medical-Surgical Nursing Education Courses

The purpose of this study was to determine what the effects of virtual clinical simulation instruction were on the learning outcomes of students in higher education medical-surgical nursing education courses. This study fills a gap in the literature by adding data to the body of knowledge related to the use of this strategy for practical application in the classroom. This study used a causal comparative design. Data were acquired from the ATI Content Mastery Series (CMS) 2.1 Medical Surgical Examination ™ information for the fall 2006 through fall 2008 academic semesters. Additionally, data were collected using a pre- and post-course Medical-Surgical Nursing Self-Assessment Survey administered to the medical-surgical virtual clinical simulation comparison group during the fall 2008 semester. Participants were higher education undergraduate medical surgical nursing students at one urban private university enrolled during the 2008-2009 academic year. Students were fluent English speakers and had a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater in nursing coursework. Participation in the survey was voluntary. Benefits of the research included positive effects of using virtual clinical simulation to deliver medical-surgical nursing content. Findings revealed that students who received virtual clinical simulation instruction significantly demonstrated (p = .000) for medical surgical content mastery and 100% of students demonstrated positive growth (p = .000) in perceived competency. Results empower nursing stakeholders such as administrators, program chairs, faculty, and students with information for decision-making about learning outcomes, limitations, and recommendations related to the use of virtual clinical simulations in medical-surgical nursing education courses

Investigating the differential effects of social networking site addiction and Internet gaming disorder on psychological health

Background and aims: Previous studies focused on examining the interrelationships between social networking site (SNS) addiction and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) in isolation. Moreover, little is known about the potential simultaneous differential effects of SNS addiction and IGD on psychological health. This study investigated the interplay between these two technological addictions and ascertained how they can uniquely and distinctively contribute to increasing psychiatric distress when accounting for potential effects stemming from sociodemographic and technology-related variables. Methods: A sample of 509 adolescents (53.5% males) aged 10–18 years (mean = 13.02, SD = 1.64) were recruited. Results: It was found that key demographic variables can play a distinct role in explaining SNS addiction and IGD. Furthermore, it was found that SNS addiction and IGD can augment the symptoms of each other, and simultaneously contribute to deterioration of overall psychological health in a similar fashion, further highlighting potentially common etiological and clinical course between these two phenomena. Finally, the detrimental effects of IGD on psychological health were found to be slightly more pronounced than those produced by SNS addiction, a finding that warrants additional scientific scrutiny. Discussion and conclusion: The implications of these results are further discussed in light of the existing evidence and debates regarding the status of technological addictions as primary and secondary disorders

Familial Regulation of Young Children\u27s TV Viewing in Ghana

This study examined familial regulation of young children\u27s TV viewing in Ghana. Participants were families with young children four through eight years enrolled at a school in the south of Ghana. An online survey of TV regulation practices of families (restrictive, coviewing, and instructive), TV viewing hours of young children, and families\u27 perception of TV influence on their children was completed by 158 family members (mostly parents). Results showed that restrictive regulation is the most predominately used strategy in Ghana, although all 3 regulation styles were used. College educated families were significantly more likely to use restrictive regulation than families with a primary school education. Further, over 70% of the young children exceeded the World Health Organization (2019), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (2016) recommended two hours of young children’s TV viewing. Results are discussed in terms of policy suggestions and future research

Pilot testing the feasibility of a game intervention aimed at improving help seeking and coping among sexual and gender minority youth: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY; e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth) experience myriad substance use and mental health disparities compared with their cisgender (non-transgender) heterosexual peers. Despite much research showing these disparities are driven by experiences of bullying and cyberbullying victimization, few interventions have aimed to improve the health of bullied SGMY. One possible way to improve the health of bullied SGMY is via an online-accessible game intervention. Nevertheless, little research has examined the feasibility of using an online-accessible game intervention with SGMY. Objectives: To describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) pilot testing the feasibility and limited-efficacy of a game-based intervention for increasing help-seeking-related knowledge, intentions, self-efficacy, and behaviors, productive coping skills use, and coping flexibility, and reducing health risk factors and behaviors among SGMY. Methods: We enrolled 240 SGMY aged 14-18 years residing in the United States into a two-arm prospective RCT. The intervention is a theory-based, community-informed, computer-based, role playing game with three primary components: (1) encouraging help-seeking behaviors; (2) encouraging use of productive coping; and (3) raising awareness of online resources. SGMY randomized to both the intervention and control conditions will receive a list of SGMY-inclusive resources covering a variety of health-related topics. Control condition participants received only the list of resources. Notably, all study procedures are conducted online. We conveniently sampled SGMY using online website advertisements. Study assessments occur at enrollment, 1 month after enrollment, and 2 months after enrollment. The primary outcomes of this feasibility study include implementation procedures, game demand, and game acceptability. Secondary outcomes include help-seeking intentions, self-efficacy, and behaviors; productive coping strategies and coping flexibility; and knowledge and use of online resources. Tertiary outcomes include bullying and cyberbullying victimization; loneliness; mental health issues; substance use; and internalized sexual and gender minority stigma. Results: From April through July 2018, 240 participants were enrolled and randomized. Half of the enrolled participants (n=120) were randomized into the intervention condition, and half (n=120) into the control condition. At baseline, 52% of participants identified as gay or lesbian, 27% as bisexual, 24% as queer, and 12% as another non-heterosexual identity. Nearly half (47%) of participants were a gender minority, 37% were cisgender boys, and 16% were cisgender girls. There were no differences in demographic characteristics between intervention and control condition participants. Data collection is anticipated to end in November 2018. Conclusions: Online-accessible game interventions overcome common impediments of face-to-face interventions and present a unique opportunity to reach SGMY and improve their health. This trial will provide data on feasibility and limited-efficacy that can inform future online studies and a larger RCT aimed at improving health equity for SGMY. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03501264; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03501264 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/72HpafarW

<em>Serious Games</em> in der Ernährungsbildung von Kindern, Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen: Befragungen, Entwicklung und Evaluierung

The present dissertation addresses the application of serious games for nutritional education among children, adolescents, and young adults. The aim was to design and to evaluate a serious game. Surveys among children and adolescents and young adults were carried out to assess the target groups` preferences regarding a serious game for nutritional education. The survey results were integrated in the game development and design. A pilot study was conducted at secondary schools to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed game regarding nutritional knowledge.Die vorliegende Dissertation befasst sich mit der Anwendung von serious games zur Ernährungsbildung bei Kindern, Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen. Ziel war es, ein serious game zu entwickeln und zu evaluieren. Hierzu wurden Befragungen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen durchgeführt, um die Präferenzen der Zielgruppen bezüglich eines digitalen Ernährungsspiels zu bewerten. Die Ergebnisse der Befragung wurden in die Spielentwicklung und das Spieldesign integriert. Um die Effektivität des entwickelten Spiels auf das Ernährungswissens zu evaluieren, wurde eine Pilotstudie an Mittelschulen durchgeführt

Can exergaming improve mental health of university students?

The academic, financial, and social pressures that emerge when adults begin university may lead them to encounter mental health challenges (American College Health Association [ACHA], 2016). In Ontario, 46.2% of university/college students have reported ‘excessive’ stress whereas 64.5% report ‘overwhelming’ anxiety (ACHA, 2016). One approach that may be useful for enhancing mental health is exergaming which uses motion-sensor technology requiring players to move their bodies to complete the videogame sessions (Huang et al., 2017). However, studies focused on the effectiveness of exergaming for improving mental health of university students are scarce in number and limited in scope. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to examine the role of exergaming in relation to mental health reported by university students. In Study 1, a synthesis of published intervention research using exergaming to change well-being – a psychological concept affiliated with mental health – reported by adults was conducted. Results from Study 1 indicated that less than 50.0% of the coded studies - using either multi- or single-group (pre-post-test) research designs - reported enhanced well-being as a function of exergaming. In Study 2, the link between the amount and intensity of exergaming behaviour per week and mental health reported by university students was evaluated. Results from Study 2 indicated that university students who reported more frequent exergaming behaviour during a typical week displayed lower anxiety and stress plus higher flourishing and vitality. In Study 3, the contributions of exergaming to mental health of university students were investigated using an experimental research design that compared exergaming against other physical activity behaviours and self-management approaches. Results from Study 3 showed that ‘exergamers’ did not present higher or lower mental health scores compared against ‘traditional’ exercisers but displayed less stress and anxiety when compared against pet therapy, as well as, higher vitality plus lower stress and anxiety compared to ‘non-exercisers’. The results from these studies make it apparent that exergaming may not offer anything ‘unique’ as a stimulus beyond more traditional modes of exercise, but it fosters mental health of university students

Using social media and mobile gaming to improve the vegetable intake of young adults

Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend five servings of vegetables daily for prevention of chronic disease, but only 7% of adults achieve this. The initial stages of this thesis involved secondary analysis of the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey data. Results showed young adults aged 18-24 years were the poorest consumers of vegetables, with mean intake of 2.7 serves daily. To inform the design of a targeted intervention using new technology the PhD candidate systematically reviewed the literature and found mobile-phone based interventions have positive effects on vegetable consumption (Cohen’s d 0.15,95% CI 0.04–0.28). Notably, engagement was low among young adults and few studies harnessed novel strategies such as social media or gamification for program delivery. Yet 95% of young adults own a smartphone and 91% use their device for game play or social networking. The final stage of this thesis involved the development of a 4-week social media and mobile-gaming intervention underpinned by behavioural theory, to addresses key barriers to, and psychosocial determinants of, vegetable intake. Behaviour change techniques demonstrated to mediate success, such as goal setting and self-monitoring were integrated. Short mobile-phone delivered cooking videos were developed to address the low level of cooking literacy among this age group, with focus group testing confirming their acceptability among the target audience. A factorial study design was used to determine the feasibility of delivering the program. This was the first study to explore the impact of social support using social media in combination with gaming elements in a nutrition intervention for young adults. The research revealed that it is feasible and practical to deliver behaviour change interventions to young adults using these novel communication mediums. The accessibility of these platforms could allow the dissemination of individual behaviour change interventions at scale