Gamification and Healthcare: Levelling Up Patient Engagement

In the world of healthcare, patient engagement is crucial for better health outcomes and overall satisfaction. However, traditional methods often struggle to capture and maintain individuals’ attention and motivation in the long run. That’s where gamification comes in.

Gamification involves integrating game-like elements into non-game contexts to motivate and engage people. Think of rewards, challenges, and leaderboards. It taps into our innate desire for competition, achievement, and rewards to drive positive behaviour change and active participation in healthcare.

A recent publication titled “Exploring the Impact of Gamification on Healthcare” published in the JMIR Human Factors journal [1] sheds light on how gamification can transform the healthcare landscape and enhance patient engagement.

So, what did we find from the study?

1. Improved Loyalty to Treatment Plans: Gamification consistently boosted treatment adherence. By incorporating game elements like progress tracking, reminders, and rewards. Patients were more motivated to stick to their prescribed treatment plans.
2. Increased Patient Engagement: Gamification strategies encouraged active participation. By turning healthcare tasks into interactive and enjoyable experiences, patients became more proactive in managing their health.
3. Enhanced Knowledge Retention: Gamified educational content improved information recall. Patients who engaged with gamified learning tools showed a better understanding of their conditions and treatments.
4. Behaviour Modification: Gamification effectively promoted behaviour change. It motivated patients to adopt healthier habits like increased physical activity, improved eating habits, and even smoking stopped.
5. Social Support and Community Building: Many gamification interventions fostered social interactions among patients. Features like leaderboards, online forums, and virtual challenges created a sense of camaraderie and healthy competition, enhancing motivation and support.

The implications are clear, gamification has the potential to revolutionise patient engagement and improve health outcomes. By combining game design principles with personalised approaches, healthcare providers and developers can create captivating solutions that encourage long-term behaviour change.

However, it’s important to note that gamification shouldn’t replace traditional healthcare approaches but rather complement them. A patient-centred approach combined with gamification techniques holds the key to unlocking the full potential of patient engagement.

Gamification and Healthcare – apps

The Gro Health app is an exemplary gamification solution that works as a powerful tool to support and empower individuals with medical conditions throughout their health journey. With its intuitive user interface and wide range of features, the app strives to offer personalised care, educational resources, and comprehensive support to enhance overall well-being.

One of the key strengths of the Gro Health app is its ability to cater to a wide range of medical conditions. Whether it’s diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or any other condition, the app offers tailored support specific to each individual’s needs. By inputting relevant health data and preferences, users can access personalised content and recommendations, allowing them to manage their conditions more effectively.

The app offers a range of features that can greatly benefit users with medical conditions. These include:

Tracking and Monitoring:

• Users can track and monitor their symptoms, medications, vital signs, and other health-related data. This information can provide valuable insights into their condition’s progression. Helping them identify patterns or triggers that may impact their well-being.

Education and Resources:

• The Gro Health app offers a wealth of educational materials, articles, and resources related to various medical conditions. Users can access reliable information, learn about self-care techniques, medication management, lifestyle modifications, and gain a deeper understanding of their condition.

Goal Setting and Progress Tracking:

• Setting goals is an essential part of managing any medical condition. The app allows users to set personal health goals and track their progress over time. This feature not only helps individuals stay motivated but also provides a sense of accomplishment as they make positive strides towards better health.

Personalised Recommendations:

• Based on the user’s input and health data, the app generates personalised recommendations and tips. These recommendations can cover a wide range of topics, such as nutrition, exercise, stress management, and more. Users can implement these suggestions into their daily routines to support their overall health and well-being.

Community Support:

• The Gro Health app fosters a sense of community by connecting users with others who share similar medical conditions. Through discussion forums and support groups, individuals can share experiences, exchange advice, and find emotional support from peers who understand their unique challenges.

The Gro Health app aims to empower users to take control of their health and lead more fulfilling lives. Whether it’s managing symptoms, improving lifestyle habits, or accessing valuable resources, the app serves as a valuable companion for individuals navigating their health journey.

As we look to the future, understanding the impact of different game mechanics, customisation options, and tailored feedback will help design even more effective and engaging gamified healthcare solutions.

By transforming routine healthcare tasks into enjoyable experiences, gamification empowers patients and promotes positive behaviour change. As technology continues to evolve, the integration of gamification in healthcare has the potential to revolutionise patient experiences and contribute to better health outcomes.

[1] Hanson P, Summers C, Panesar A, Liarakos A, Oduro-Donkor D, Whyte Oshodi D, Hailston L, Randeva H, Menon V, de la Fosse M, Kaura A, Shuttlewood E, Loveder M, Poole D, Barber T. Implementation of a Digital Health Tool for Patients Awaiting Input From a Specialist Weight Management Team: Observational Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2023;10:e41256.

URL: Link to the publication

DOI: 10.2196/41256