CardioCare Quest: A Co-created Game for Improving Hypertension Treatment Compliance in Arizona

Summary

This project aims to address healthcare disparities among Navaho people diagnosed with hypertension or prehypertension through three main objectives. Firstly, it identifies and shares insights on healthcare access disparities affecting Navaho individuals experiencing nonadherence to hypertension treatment. Secondly, the proposal develops a telehealth solution based on factors identified as knowledge gaps caused by healthcare access disparities in hypertension management; we will use the factors to design a series of engaging minigames that can be incorporated into the larger CardioCare Quest. These minigames will be co-designed with end users and clinicians. Finally, the proposal conducts comprehensive qualitative and quantitative assessments of user experiences, perceptions, and challenges with CardioCare Quest.

Detailed Description

CardioCare Quest is a creative solution to addressing High Blood Pressure (HBP) and improving treatment compliance through a telehealth game, particularly among Navaho populations in Arizona. Integrating a telemetry system is a unique aspect that could offer valuable data on heart-healthy lifestyles in non-traditional clinical settings. The project's primary goals include designing and developing minigames combined with educational modules to enhance HBP treatment adherence and knowledge. Additionally, it seeks to collect preliminary data through a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the game's usability, engagement, and utility. This crucial step precedes the progression towards the R01 application for a comprehensive study evaluating the long-term effectiveness of the game. In Aim 1, the hypothesis is that the resulting affinity diagrams, which prioritize design problem statements, will enable them to share valuable insights on healthcare access disparities. This, in turn, provides crucial knowledge for developing targeted interventions to improve treatment compliance among Indigenous populations. In Aim 2, thematic analysis is applied to codesigned minigame prototypes using an emerging serious game theory. Aim 3 involves using a mixed methods approach to determine the impact of CardioCare Quest's telehealth interventions. The methodology of the CardioCare Quest project involves a participatory design approach that incorporates methods like bodystorming, brainstorming, and affinity diagramming that are tailored to the specific cultural and health needs of Indigenous populations in Arizona. This approach includes developing a series of engaging multiplayer minigames that focus on various aspects of HBP management, like diet, exercise, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications.

Eligibility Criteria

Interventions