Pilot Evaluation of a Co-Designed Gamified Farm Injury Prevention Educational Resource for Adolescents

Adolescents are at-risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the farm environment. School-based agricultural safety and farm injury prevention education is likely to be more effective when utilizing co-designed and gamification principles; however, this needs to be tested. This study examined data from a pilot evaluation of a co-designed farm injury prevention gamified educational resource for adolescents.

Online, anonymous surveys were conducted with students studying agriculture in regional Australia who had previously participated in the co-design process to develop "Calm Your Farm". Three courses were developed (vehicles, workshop, and water safety) and before and after playing each of the courses for the first time, students completed survey questions regarding self-reported knowledge on the course topic, and assessment of content, design, ease of play, and how much they learned. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi square tests of association, and independent sample t tests.

We analyzed 66 responses (66.7% male; 60.6% aged 13 years). Staged course release meant all respondents assessed the vehicle and workshop courses, while 58% assessed the water safety course. Vehicle and workshop courses were rated 7.64 out of a possible 10 (SD = 1.85) and 7.65 (SD = 1.78), respectively, for the information presented, slightly higher than water safety (7.47 [SD = 1.91]). Statistically significant improvements in self-reported knowledge post play were seen among boys for the water safety course (63% said knowledge improved; X² = 4.98; p = .026) and 13-year-olds for vehicles (35%; X² = 4.31; p = .038) and workshop safety (50%; X² = 4.29; p = .038). Respondents indicated being more likely to replay the game at school (M = 6.62 [SD = 2.96]) than at home (M = 5.57 [SD = 3.07]). Of respondents, 61% (n = 40) agreed that "Calm Your Farm" taught them more about farm safety and was more fun than other farm safety education previously received. Tractor safety (62%), chemical safety (58%), and firearm safety (58%) were the most popular topics suggested to be added to the game.

The co-design and gamification approach taken with "Calm Your Farm" appeared to be successful in improving self-reported knowledge around farm injury prevention and was perceived by 62% of the respondents as being fun and educational. Future expansion should incorporate student suggested topics.