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Evaluation of a Web-based malaria risk reduction game for study abroad students
Laurie B Hartjes1, Linda C Baumann
1School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, USA. lhartjes@wisc.edu
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|June 13, 2012
Summary
Educational games can improve travel health knowledge. Automatically providing explanatory feedback significantly boosted malaria knowledge in study abroad students, regardless of prior travel experience.
Area of Science:
- Health Education
- Educational Technology
- Travel Medicine
Background:
- Many students travel to malaria-risk regions without adequate health knowledge.
- Existing educational interventions may not effectively engage students or improve risk perception.
- Designing effective feedback in web-based learning is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of different feedback strategies in an educational game.
- To assess the impact of game feedback on malaria knowledge, risk perception, and player satisfaction.
- To evaluate the utility of interactive multimedia for travel health education.
Main Methods:
- An experimental design was used with 482 study abroad students.
- Participants played one of three versions of an educational game.
- Pre- and post-game surveys measured knowledge gain, satisfaction, and risk perception.
Main Results:
- Malaria knowledge and risk perception significantly increased post-game for all participants.
- Students receiving automatic explanatory feedback showed higher knowledge gains than other groups.
- Player satisfaction did not differ significantly across feedback strategies.
Conclusions:
- Automated explanatory feedback in educational games is an effective strategy for improving travel health knowledge.
- This approach benefits both students with and without prior malaria exposure.
- Health educators can utilize interactive multimedia for impactful travel health interventions.