EDUCATIONAL VIDEO GAME FOR JUVENILE DIABETES - RESULTS OF A CONTROLLED TRIAL

Packy & Marlon(R), an interactive video game designed to improve self- care among children and adolescents with diabetes, was evaluated in a six-month randomized controlled trial. In the game, players take the r ole of animated characters who manage their diabetes by monitoring blo od glucose, taking insulin injections, and choosing foods, while setti ng out to save a diabetes summer camp from marauding rats and mice who have stolen the diabetes supplies. Study participants were patients a ged 8 to 16 from two separate diabetes clinics. Each participant recei ved a Super Nintendo(R) video game system at an initial clinic visit a nd was randomly assigned to receive either Packy & Marlon (treatment g roup, N = 31) or an entertainment video game containing no diabetes-re lated content (control group, N = 28). Participants were interviewed a nd a parent filled out questionnaire at baseline, three months, and si x months. The findings in this study indicate that well-designed, educ ational video games can be effective interventions. There was improvem ent in the treatment group relative to the control group in terms of d iabetes-related self-efficacy (p = 0.07), communication with parents a bout diabetes (p = 0.025), and serf-care behaviours (P = 0.003), and a decrease in unscheduled urgent doctor visits (p = 0.08). There were n o significant differences between the groups in knowledge about diabet es or in glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1e)) levels. Since participants in the study were in general well-controlled patients who were receiving excellent medical care, future research is contemplated involving youn gsters who are not under good glycaemic control.