Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Video Gaming for Rehab

Scoping review

A scoping review of video gaming in adult rehabilitation

Ravenek, K. E., Wolfe, D. L. & Hitzig, S. L.

Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology Early online 1 – 9 DOI: 10.3109/17483107.2015.1029538

Link to abstract: informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/17483107.2015.1029538

Objective: To review published research for video gaming with adult rehabilitation.

Process: Five databases were searched for articles arising from 1990. 30 articles met the criteria; they are published in English, use commercially available game systems for adults in rehabilitation settings, describe an intervention and an outcome that is measured.

Scoping reviews take a wide view of emerging topics to synthesize a summary of research and research gaps. The scoping review methodology is taken from Levac et al. “Scoping Studies: Advancing the Methodology”. The process: identify a research question, find studies, filter, organize, synthesize and communicate the results.

Outcome: Nintendo Wii was most often used for adults in rehabilitation settings at risk for falls or with decreased balance (Intervention), and most commonly measured with the Berg Balance Scale (Outcome measure).

Reference: Levac, D., Colquhoun, H. & O’Brien, K. K. Scoping Studies: Advancing the Methodology, Implementation Science, 2010;5:67-77. Full text: www.implementationscience.com/content/pdf/1748-5908-5-69.pdf

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

New Center for Digital Games Research

New Resource

The Center for Digital Games Research, at the University of California at Santa Barbara, takes a wide, cross-disciplines approach to the design and play of video games and digital media in general.

Digital games, now so embedded in our culture, have a place “in helping us make healthier decisions and foster healthier lifestyles.” The Center for Digital Games Research considers how people interact with health games and how games can be improved to be more effective.

Included in center’s activities are 21 funded projects, and the publication of a health games database, which catalogues “information about hundreds of games, publications, organizations and events - all focused on the use of digital games for health and health care”.

Center for Digital Games Research www.cdgr.ucsb.edu

Database www.cdgr.ucsb.edu/db

News article www.news.ucsb.edu/2015/014784/games-people-play