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The effectiveness of the serious game "Broodles" for siblings of children with intellectual disabilities and/or
Linda K M Veerman1, Agnes M Willemen2, Suzanne D M Derks2
1Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies; LEARN!; Amsterdam Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, the Netherlands. l.k.m.veerman@vu.nl.
Insights
This study evaluates "Broodles," a serious game designed to support siblings of children with intellectual disability or visual impairment. The game aims to improve siblings' quality of life and psychosocial well-being.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Digital Health Interventions
- Special Education
Background:
- Siblings of children with disabilities require targeted support, yet evidence-based interventions are scarce.
- Existing interventions for siblings of children with intellectual disability (ID) and/or visual impairment (VI) are limited.
- This study addresses the need for accessible support for these siblings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of a novel serious game, "Broodles," for siblings of children with ID and/or VI.
- To determine if the game improves sibling quality of life, adjustment to disability, and psychosocial well-being.
- To provide a potentially free, accessible intervention for siblings.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 154 children aged 6-9 years and their parents.
- The experimental group played the "Broodles" serious game for 4 weeks; the control group was on a waiting list.
- Assessments included questionnaires on quality of life and psychosocial well-being, child drawings of the sibling relationship, and parent/child interviews at baseline, 5 weeks, and 12-14 weeks.
Main Results:
- Data collection is ongoing; results will indicate the serious game's impact on sibling well-being.
- The study will analyze quantitative questionnaire data and qualitative interview responses.
- Child drawings will provide insights into the sibling relationship dynamics.
Conclusions:
- This research contributes to understanding sibling interventions and the utility of serious games in this context.
- If effective, "Broodles" offers a scalable, easily accessible, and cost-free support resource.
- The findings will inform the development of future digital interventions for siblings of children with disabilities.
Background:
Siblings of children with disabilities also need support. However, there are only a few evidence-based interventions for these siblings. The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of a newly developed serious game for young siblings of children with intellectual disability (ID) and/or visual impairment (VI). This serious game is hypothesized to improve sibling's quality of life, adjustment to their brother's or sister's disability, and multiple aspects of psychosocial well-being.
Methods:
The intervention consists of a serious game called "Broodles" (in Dutch: "Broedels") that helps children to recognize and deal with thoughts, feelings, and difficult situations. The game consists of eight 20-minute levels that all have the same structure with eight game elements. Each level addresses a domain of sibling quality of life and combines animations, mini-documentaries, fun mini-games, and multiple-choice questions. In addition to the game, siblings make a worksheet after playing each level. In order to support the child, the parents or caregivers receive a short brochure with information and tips. The effectiveness of the intervention will be investigated among a sample of 154 children aged 6-9 years and their parents or caregivers, using a two-arm parallel RCT design. The experimental group will play the serious game "Broodles" over a period of 4 weeks, whereas the control group will be placed on a waiting list. Assessments will take place at three time points: pre-test (week 1), post-test (week 5), and follow-up (weeks 12-14). At each timepoint, children and parents will complete several questionnaires on quality of life and different aspects of psychosocial well-being. In addition, children will make drawings to assess the sibling relationship. Next to that, parents and children will answer closed and open-ended questions about the sibling adjustment to their brother or sister's disability. Finally, parents and children will evaluate the serious game through closed and open-ended questions.
Discussion:
This study contributes to the knowledge about sibling interventions and serious games. Additionally, if the serious game is proven to be effective, it will be a readily available, easily accessible, and free of charge intervention for siblings.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05376007, registered prospectively on April 21, 2022.
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