A game-based learning approach to sleep hygiene education: a pilot investigation

• Main Authors: Christine Seaver (Author), Clint Bowers (Author), Deborah Beidel (Author), Lisa Holt (Author), Sridhar Ramakrishnan (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2673-253X; 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1334840
• Keywords: sleep hygiene; game-based learning; serious games; games for health; sleep hygiene education (SHE); Medicine; R; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Electronic computers. Computer science; QA75.5-76.95
• Source: Frontiers in Digital Health, Vol 6 (2024)

IntroductionSleep hygiene education (SHE) consists of environmental and behavioral practices primarily intended to reduce sleep problems. Currently considered ineffective as a stand-alone treatment, the manner in which the education is typically delivered may be ineffective for the acquisition of new knowledge. The purpose of this study was to determine if a more engaging teaching medium may improve the efficacy of sleep hygiene education. This study examined the use of game-based learning to teach SHE to individuals with sleep problems.Methods35 participants played the SHE games for 30 days. Differences in pre- and post-state anxiety and sleep quality measures were examined.ResultsParticipants had significant improvements in sleep quality and state anxiety after using the app for 30 days, although scores for the majority of patients remained elevated.DiscussionThis pilot investigation provides initial evidence for the efficacy of a game-based approach to SHE.