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Pilot Testing and Validation of an Educational Game on Transportation Challenges for Mobility Device Users
Jorge L Candiotti1,2, Sangmi Park1,3, Chang Dae Lee1,4
1Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Department of Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA.
Disabilities (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 3, 2025
Summary
A new educational board game, HERL-Town, helps mobility device users (MDUs) learn safe navigation for community transportation barriers. This game shows promise in enhancing MDU independence and confidence.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Assistive Technology Education
- Transportation Accessibility
Background:
- Practical education for navigating real-world transportation barriers is limited for mobility device users (MDUs).
- Existing training methods may not adequately prepare MDUs for diverse community transit challenges.
- There is a need for innovative tools to improve safe and independent community mobility for MDUs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the initial validity, reliability, and quality of the HERL-Town educational board game.
- To assess HERL-Town's effectiveness as a tool for teaching safe navigation of transportation barriers.
- To determine the game's potential to enhance community participation for mobility device users.
Main Methods:
- HERL-Town, featuring 50 transportation barrier scenarios, was developed.
- Content validity of scenarios was assessed by experts.
- Game quality was evaluated using the Model for the Evaluation of Educational Games (MEEGA+).
- Twenty-three experienced MDUs and four caregivers participated in the study.
Main Results:
- HERL-Town achieved a good overall quality score of 60.15.
- Forty-five out of fifty scenarios met content validity standards.
- The game demonstrated moderate overall reliability (ICC = 0.729).
Conclusions:
- HERL-Town is a promising educational game for new mobility device users and their companions.
- The game effectively addresses safe navigation of ground transportation barriers.
- Findings suggest HERL-Town can enhance MDU confidence, independence, and community participation.
