Rango Cards, a digital game designed to promote a healthy diet: a randomized study protocol

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Educational Technology
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Innovative methods are crucial for effective food and nutrition education targeting young audiences.
• Digital games offer an engaging and motivating platform for learning, particularly for adolescents who readily adopt new technologies.
• Adapting dietary guidelines into behavioral change strategies presents a challenge, where game-based learning shows promise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a nutritional intervention using a digital card game for school-aged adolescents in the Federal District, Brazil.
• To promote healthy dietary practices through an innovative, game-based learning approach.
• To evaluate the impact of the digital game on adolescents' food knowledge and self-efficacy in adopting healthy habits.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving adolescents in private schools in the Federal District, Brazil.
• Intervention group received the 'Rango Cards' digital game, designed with Brazilian dietary guidelines.
• Control group received no intervention; both groups completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The 'Rango Cards' game is designed to educate adolescents on adequate and healthy diets in a playful context.
• Game mechanics, including food/meal cards and habit challenges, are structured to enhance the learning experience.
• Anticipated outcomes include improved food knowledge and increased self-efficacy for healthy eating practices.

Conclusions:

• The digital card game 'Rango Cards' serves as a novel food and nutrition education tool.
• The game is expected to foster autonomy, motivation, and enjoyment in learning about healthy eating.
• This intervention has the potential to contribute to appropriate dietary consumption among adolescents.