STTR Phase II: Microgames for Improving Pediatric Compliance

这个小型企业创新研究第二阶段项目中提出的创新将利用移动微游戏在手持设备上的普及和无处不在，以教育儿童自我管理慢性健康状况。数以百万计的儿童患有需要定期治疗的慢性疾病，如糖尿病，或因肥胖而导致的更广泛的健康状况不佳。儿童不太可能坚持适当的药物和行为来管理他们的病情，因此更有可能住院，或在未来患上长期的疾病。该项目旨在开发引人入胜的互动微型游戏，培训儿童监测和管理他们的慢性病。该项目将为I型糖尿病和肥胖症创建微游戏。将对糖尿病微游戏工具的大规模评估在用户知识和态度方面的有效性进行评估。该项目应该产生一种有效的游戏，提高儿童对其状况的了解和对健康行为的坚持。拟议项目的更广泛/商业影响包括改善患有慢性健康状况的儿童的健康，特别是那些患有I型糖尿病或肥胖症的儿童。这将提高他们对自我管理行为的了解，如监测血糖水平、避免高糖食物和保持身体健康。这样做的目的是让这些孩子保持更健康，并避免将来出现进一步的并发症。这些微型游戏可以为许多需要积极、频繁管理的慢性疾病而设计，也可以为包括移动电话和数字音乐播放器在内的各种手持设备而设计，从而在当今熟练掌握技术的年轻人中广泛采用和使用。

The innovation proposed in this Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will harness the popularity and ubiquity of mobile microgames on hand-held devices for educating children on self-management of chronic health conditions. Millions of children suffer from chronic conditions which require regular management, such as diabetes, or from broader states of poor health caused by obesity. Children are less likely to adhere to proper medication and behaviors to manage their condition, and thus are more likely to be hospitalized, or to suffer from long-term morbidity in the future. This project aims to build engaging, interactive microgames that train children to monitor and manage their chronic conditions. This project will create microgames for type I diabetes and obesity. A large-scale evaluation of the diabetes microgame tool will be evaluated for efficacy in user knowledge and attitudes. The project should result in an effective game that improves children's understanding of their condition and adherence to healthy behaviors.The broader/commercial impact of the proposed project includes improving the health of children with chronic health conditions, particularly those suffering from type I diabetes or obesity. It will improve their knowledge on self-management behaviors such as monitoring blood glucose levels, avoiding high-sugar foods, and maintaining physical fitness. The aim is that these children will stay healthier and avoid further complications in the future. These microgames can be designed for numerous chronic conditions that require active, frequent management, and can be built for a variety of hand-held devices, including mobile phones and digital music players, which allows for wide-spread adoption and use among today's technologically-adept youth.