Preventing Adolescents' Diabesity: Design, Development, and First Evaluation of "Gustavo in Gnam's Planet".
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to design, develop, and evaluate a game for health, "Gustavo in Gnam's Planet" ("Gustavo"), aimed to improve knowledge on healthy foods and to increase consumption of healthy foods.


METHODS
Eighty-three high school students were enrolled in the study. The game was designed and developed by a multidisciplinary team. Behavioral change theories were adopted to guide the design of the health messages. Participants were assessed about food frequency, healthy food knowledge, and the game's interest.


RESULTS
Forty-seven subjects (mean age, 14.9±1.0 years; 72.3 percent males) completed the study. At posttest, participants showed significant higher scores (i.e., increased knowledge) in the questionnaire on knowledge of healthy foods (70.0±9.2 versus 71.3±10.0 for pretest and posttest, respectively; P<0.05). Improvements in healthy eating habits were also detected: higher frequency of consumption during a week of white meat (1 [1-2] versus 2 [1-2]; P=0.01), eggs (1 [1-1] versus 1 [1-2]; P=0.01], and legumes (1 [0-1] versus 1 [1-2]; P=0.03) and lower frequency of consumption of sugar-containing packaged snacks (1 [0-1] versus 0 [0-1]; P=0.009). Most of the participants found the game easy to use and clear in its content. Half of the participants found the game interesting.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that "Gustavo" is a promising tool for health education, in schools or in other environments. Limitations of the study and future directions are discussed.
1 Department of Psychological Sciences, Humanities and the Territory, "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Daniela
D
Marchetti
2 Department of Medicine and Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Federica
F
Fraticelli
3 "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Francesco
F
Polcini
3 "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Roberto
R
Lato
4 Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Epidemiology, Fondazione Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Chieti, Italy .
Basilio
B
Pintaudi
4 Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Epidemiology, Fondazione Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro, Chieti, Italy .
Antonio
A
Nicolucci
1 Department of Psychological Sciences, Humanities and the Territory, "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Mario
M
Fulcheri
2 Department of Medicine and Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .|5 Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University Foundation , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Angelika
A
Mohn
2 Department of Medicine and Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .|5 Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University Foundation , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Francesco
F
Chiarelli
5 Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University Foundation , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Giacoma
G
Di Vieste
2 Department of Medicine and Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .|5 Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University Foundation , Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy .
Ester
E
Vitacolonna
D000293:Adolescent; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D000068356:Self-Control; D062410:Snacks; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology