Evaluation of a Web-Based Malaria Risk Reduction Game for Study Abroad Students

Abstract

Objective: Compare feedback strategies in 3 versions of an educational game. Participants: Study abroad students (N = 482) participated by playing the game and completing pregame/postgame surveys January–March 2010. Methods: This study employed an experimental design. Primary outcome measures were knowledge gain, player satisfaction, and risk perception. Results: One-third had previously traveled to a malaria-risk region, and two thirds planned to do so. Baseline malaria knowledge was low. Postgame knowledge and risk perception were significantly higher than pregame, irrespective of past travel status. The group that automatically received explanatory feedback following game decisions scored higher for mean knowledge gain, without differences in player satisfaction. Conclusions: The challenges of designing a feedback strategy to support Web-based learning make these results highly relevant to health educators developing interactive multimedia interventions. The increasing number of students traveling to higher-risk destinations demands attention. Both malaria-naive and malaria-experienced students would benefit from this approach to travel health education.

[An appendix to the article is featured as an online supplement at the publisher's Web site.]

Keywords:

• college
• feedback
• game design
• malaria
• risk reduction
• study abroad
• Web-based

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported in part by the University of Wisconsin–Madison through an Academic Technology Engage Project award and School of Nursing Eckburg and Shapiro research awards; a Sigma Theta Tau/Beta Eta Chapter research award; a 2009 Sigma Theta Tau/Hugoton Foundation/American Nurses Foundation scholar award; and an NIH/NINR fellowship (F31 NR010425-01A2). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Nursing Research or the National Institutes of Health.

Notes

*n may vary due to missing cases.