Development of Serious Games (Equit'Game) to Address Health and Environmental Inequalities: Protocol for an App-Delivered Program to Perform a Territorial Diagnosis.

Wahida Kihal Talantikite,Severine Deguen,Denis Zmirou-Navier,Damien Renou,Arnold Magdelaine,William Harang

doi:10.2196/11786

Abstract

BackgroundTerritorial diagnosis is a prerequisite for local actions concerning public health and for the reduction of social, environmental, and health-related inequalities. To orient local programs or initiatives targeting health inequalities, policymakers need a simulation of territorial diagnosis tools. Yet, very few platforms have been developed for the purpose of guiding public authorities as they seek to reduce these social inequalities.ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe the design and methods of the development process of a territorial diagnosis tool based on a serious game named Equit’Game that puts learners at the heart of the territorial diagnosis process, asking them to review the current state of health, environmental state, and socioeconomic state of their territory.MethodsThe realistic situations employed in our serious game should encourage players, in a fun and playful manner, to (1) appropriate the data of their own territory, (2) apply their methodological knowledge in a practical way, (3) reflect on the most pertinent statistical or spatial tools for their situation, and (4) ultimately, to acquire new knowledge and skills in the use of territorial diagnosis tools with a spatial dynamic. Equit’Game was deployed over the course of a week’s training and structured into 4 levels: level 1, Dataminer (identifying relevant information to respond to the question); level 2, Analyst (selecting the appropriate method of analysis); level 3, Atlas (mapping the data); and level 4, Cluster (extraction of statistical and spatial information). Equit’Game has also been designed as a sort of virtual campus, creating a fun learning environment in which each door represents a level. Users can access Equit’Game via a platform compatible with tablets, PCs, and mobile phones.ResultsIn the first step, we tested our application interface designed especially for adults among a panel of local health professionals. The following are some of the most relevant points: font size and colors used, voice accompaniment in texts and messages guiding the user, clear and easy interfaces, and the change between successive game levels. In the second step, we used our application, Equit’Game, with postgraduate students from the School of Public Health (École des hautes études en santé publique). At the end of the game session, we conducted a satisfaction survey, including several items covering both the application interface and the execution of the game.ConclusionsEquit’Game was developed to help learners with the techniques of territorial diagnosis, with the aim of creating an innovative tool for public health capable of conveying educational messages and providing a structure for training.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/11786

Highlights

Public policy on health and social matters insists that territorial diagnosis be a prerequisite for all territorial procedures and, on a more general level, for all local development actions [1]
The realistic situations employed in our serious game should encourage players, in a fun and playful manner, to (1) appropriate the data of their own territory, (2) apply their methodological knowledge in a practical way, (3) reflect on the most pertinent statistical or spatial tools for their situation, and (4) to acquire new knowledge and skills in the use of territorial diagnosis tools with a spatial dynamic
Researchers have a role to play in this field, because the absence of tools and methodologies enabling concrete and efficient responses to these local priorities is a significant problem

Summary

Introduction

Public policy on health and social matters insists that territorial diagnosis be a prerequisite for all territorial procedures and, on a more general level, for all local development actions [1]. This process involves stakeholders with interests and decision-making powers, which are different but complementary; coordinating their actions is one of the key factors determining the success or the failure of local projects. Territorial diagnosis is a prerequisite for local actions concerning public health and for the reduction of social, environmental, and health-related inequalities. Very few platforms have been developed for the purpose of guiding public authorities as they seek to reduce these social inequalities

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion