A gamified mobile health intervention for school-aged children in day surgery care
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Leena Palotie Auditorium 101A (Aapistie 5A). Remote access: https://oulu.zoom.us/j/63547997607?pwd=MDFwblY3bTRteitYdXlja0RZSzgzQT09
Topic of the dissertation
A gamified mobile health intervention for school-aged children in day surgery care
Doctoral candidate
Master of Health Sciences, M.H.Sc Arja Rantala
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management
Subject of study
Nursing Sciences
Opponent
Professor Katja Joronen, University of Turku, Professor, Department of Nursing Science
Custos
Professor Tarja Pölkki, University of Oulu, Research Unit of Nursing Science and Health Management
A gamified mobile health intervention for school-aged children in day surgery care
The purpose of the study was to develop a gamified mobile health intervention in order to evaluate its effectiveness in the pediatric day surgery pathway. The aim was to produce new research information on an intervention suitable for day surgery that benefits children and their parents at different stages of the care pathway.
The study consisted of three phases: (I) systematic literature review, (II) interview and questionnaire study, and (III) randomized controlled trial (RCT). In the last phase, a gamified mobile health intervention and a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial were described in the methods section.
The phase I systematic literature review included 722 children (n=8 studies). Of them six studies were selected for the meta-analyses assessing children’s (n = 560) anxiety, and three studies assessed parents’ (n = 257) anxiety. The results showed that web-based mobile health interventions were (a) either active (n = 6) or (b) passive (n = 2) distractors or solutions that were effective for reducing children’s anxiety and increasing parental satisfaction. There was insufficient evidence for their effectiveness of reducing children’s pain or reducing parental anxiety. The phase II interview study for health care professionals (n = 15) revealed that a digital gaming solution could be used in children’s day surgery to support information, care, and guidance at different stages of the care pathway in nursing. Similarly, an open-ended questionnaire survey of parents (n = 31) revealed that the challenges of the care pathway were related to guiding the parents, supporting the children and family, and involving a child in his or her own pathway. The parents hoped that preparing for the treatment would be possible with the help of a digital gaming solution and that the communication between the family and nursing staff would be enabled via the solution.
The study provides new information on the needs of a gaming mobile health interventions for the day surgery pathway for school-age children. The information obtained from the study can be used to support the development of solutions and interventions.
The study consisted of three phases: (I) systematic literature review, (II) interview and questionnaire study, and (III) randomized controlled trial (RCT). In the last phase, a gamified mobile health intervention and a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial were described in the methods section.
The phase I systematic literature review included 722 children (n=8 studies). Of them six studies were selected for the meta-analyses assessing children’s (n = 560) anxiety, and three studies assessed parents’ (n = 257) anxiety. The results showed that web-based mobile health interventions were (a) either active (n = 6) or (b) passive (n = 2) distractors or solutions that were effective for reducing children’s anxiety and increasing parental satisfaction. There was insufficient evidence for their effectiveness of reducing children’s pain or reducing parental anxiety. The phase II interview study for health care professionals (n = 15) revealed that a digital gaming solution could be used in children’s day surgery to support information, care, and guidance at different stages of the care pathway in nursing. Similarly, an open-ended questionnaire survey of parents (n = 31) revealed that the challenges of the care pathway were related to guiding the parents, supporting the children and family, and involving a child in his or her own pathway. The parents hoped that preparing for the treatment would be possible with the help of a digital gaming solution and that the communication between the family and nursing staff would be enabled via the solution.
The study provides new information on the needs of a gaming mobile health interventions for the day surgery pathway for school-age children. The information obtained from the study can be used to support the development of solutions and interventions.
Last updated: 1.3.2023