The high prevalence of childhood obesity and its impact on children's well-being call for innovative solutions to improve the efficacy of interventions and respond to the logistical needs that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program ENTREN-Galaxy consists of 16 weekly one-and-a-half hour sessions and incorporates e-Health and gamification in a multidisciplinary family intervention for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Six participants (8-12 years) attended the sessions delivered via synchronous online meetings, incorporating gamification elements (including badges, missions, points). It was hypothesized to obtain a good level of satisfaction regarding the acceptability of the gamified e-Health format; to produce improvements in the children's level of psychological well-being (depressive symptomatology, anxiety, body self-esteem and eating symptoms); to observe an improvement in the children's z-IMC index. To verify the hypotheses, children and parents completed a battery of questionnaires before the start of the program (T0) and after its completion (T1). Acceptability was measured by means of an ad hoc satisfaction scale completed by both parties at T1. Satisfaction with the gamified e-Health format was excellent. The results of the psychological well-being variables showed medium to large effect sizes. A small effect size was found for the z-IMC value and the level of physical activity. The results from the questionnaires administered to parents are presented too. In conclusion, the program ENTREN-Galaxy has shown a high acceptance level of the gamified e-Health format and promising efficacy results. Future research should explore the potential of incorporating new digital tools to improve the overall health of children with obesity.
L’elevata prevalenza dell'obesità infantile e il suo impatto sul benessere dei bambini richiedono soluzioni innovative per migliorare l'efficacia degli interventi e rispondere alle necessità logistiche emerse a seguito della pandemia da COVID-19. Il programma ENTREN-Galaxy consta di 16 sessioni settimanali della durata di un’ora e mezza e incorpora l'e-Health e la gamification in un intervento famigliare multidisciplinare per la prevenzione e il trattamento dell’obesità infantile. Sei partecipanti (8-12 anni) hanno assistito alle sessioni erogate tramite videoconferenza sincrona, includendo elementi di gamification (tra i quali badge, missioni, punti). Si è ipotizzato di: ottenere un buon livello di soddisfazione in merito all'accettabilità del formato e-Health gamificato; produrre dei miglioramenti nel benessere psicologico dei bambini (sintomatologia depressiva, ansia, autostima corporea e sintomatologia alimentare); osservare un miglioramento nell’indice z-IMC dei bambini. Per verificare le ipotesi, bambini e genitori hanno compilato una batteria di questionari prima dell'inizio del programma (T0) e dopo il suo completamento (T1). L'accettabilità è stata misurata attraverso una scala di soddisfazione ad hoc, compilata da entrambe le parti a T1. La soddisfazione per il formato e-Health gamificato da parte delle famiglie è stata eccellente. I risultati ottenuti nelle variabili di benessere psicologico hanno mostrato dimensioni dell’effetto medio-grandi. È stata infine riscontrata una piccola dimensione dell’effetto per il valore z-IMC e il livello di attività fisica. Vengono presentati anche i risultati emersi dai questionari somministrati ai genitori. In conclusione, sono emersi un'elevata accettazione del formato e-Health gamificato e risultati di efficacia promettenti. Ricerche future dovrebbero esplorare il potenziale derivante dall’incorporazione di nuovi strumenti digitali per migliorare la salute generale dei bambini affetti da obesità.
Implementare i programmi di prevenzione e trattamento psicologico tramite la gamificazione. Efficacia del programma ENTREN-Galaxy
TOSI, CHIARA
2021/2022
Abstract
The high prevalence of childhood obesity and its impact on children's well-being call for innovative solutions to improve the efficacy of interventions and respond to the logistical needs that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program ENTREN-Galaxy consists of 16 weekly one-and-a-half hour sessions and incorporates e-Health and gamification in a multidisciplinary family intervention for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Six participants (8-12 years) attended the sessions delivered via synchronous online meetings, incorporating gamification elements (including badges, missions, points). It was hypothesized to obtain a good level of satisfaction regarding the acceptability of the gamified e-Health format; to produce improvements in the children's level of psychological well-being (depressive symptomatology, anxiety, body self-esteem and eating symptoms); to observe an improvement in the children's z-IMC index. To verify the hypotheses, children and parents completed a battery of questionnaires before the start of the program (T0) and after its completion (T1). Acceptability was measured by means of an ad hoc satisfaction scale completed by both parties at T1. Satisfaction with the gamified e-Health format was excellent. The results of the psychological well-being variables showed medium to large effect sizes. A small effect size was found for the z-IMC value and the level of physical activity. The results from the questionnaires administered to parents are presented too. In conclusion, the program ENTREN-Galaxy has shown a high acceptance level of the gamified e-Health format and promising efficacy results. Future research should explore the potential of incorporating new digital tools to improve the overall health of children with obesity.È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/2183