Developing Theory-Driven, Evidence-Based Serious Games for Health: Framework Based on Research Community Insights

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Game Design
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Serious games for health (SGH) are increasingly recognized for their potential in healthcare.
• A lack of structured guidance and consensus hinders the development of evidence-based SGH.
• Existing research offers valuable insights but lacks a unified framework for developers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and evaluate requirements for SGH development from existing literature.
• To create a consensus framework to guide the creation of evidence-based SGH.
• To support developers, designers, researchers, and healthcare professionals in SGH development.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted from October to November 2018.
• Searches included major databases (PubMed, IEEE Xplore, etc.) and regulatory publications.
• Three researchers independently evaluated and analyzed relevant evidence using predefined criteria.

Main Results:

• Identified 5 high-level and 20 low-level requirements for SGH development.
• Proposed a 5-stage consensus framework for theory-driven, evidence-based SGH.
• The framework emphasizes multidisciplinary, iterative, and participatory approaches.

Conclusions:

• A practical framework for developing theory-driven, evidence-based SGH has been formulated.
• The framework addresses scientific, technological, and design aspects of SGH development.
• It is detailed and adaptable for diverse SGH projects across various healthcare sectors.