Iterative Design of Operation Quest: A Serious Game for Pediatric Psychological Preparation and Preoperative Care

Serious games are educational tools that combine entertainment with specific objectives, such as teaching skills and promoting healthy habits. This study describes the design and development process of Operation Quest, a serious game aimed at the psychological preparation for surgery in pediatric patients. The game was developed iteratively by an interdisciplinary team at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, with the goal of reducing preoperative anxiety by teaching medical and emotional concepts in an interactive environment. Through point-and-click adventure game mechanics, children learn about medical procedures, manage their emotions, and solve puzzles and minigames, all while navigating situations that simulate the hospital environment. Collaboration between healthcare professionals and health informatics specialists ensured a product that balances educational effectiveness and entertainment, opening new opportunities for the use of serious games in pediatric healthcare. The design process included defining educational concepts, integrating interactive storytelling, and refining the mechanics through iterative testing. Evaluation was conducted with pediatric psychologists, pediatricians, and children aged 6-12, assessing usability and engagement through pre- and post-game surveys. The playability metrics and the prototype's evaluation results are explored in a separate article.