Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Jul 8, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 8, 2024 - Aug 26, 2024
Date Accepted: Dec 30, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
An Escape Game to promote students’ mental health outcomes in the aftermaths of Covid-19 pandemic: protocol for a mixed methods study evaluating a cocreated intervention
ABSTRACT
Background:
The Covid-19 pandemic and the protracted lockdowns have heavily impacted university students’ mental health. Digital Escape Games represent a good means to reach students and propose them solutions for their psychological well-being.
Objective:
The objective of the study is to evaluate a cocreated digital Escape Game on students’ mental health in the aftermath of Covid-19, called EscapeCovid Game. The evaluation of the effectiveness of this stand-alone intervention concerns mental health outcomes (mental health literacy, appraisal and change of beliefs about mental health, management of emotions, and development of coping strategies) and the appreciation and relevance of the game.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-test data collection (online questionnaires with validated scales) is conducted among 500 students in Bordeaux, France, to evaluate the EscapeCovid Game cocreated with students, researchers, health professionals and web-developers. A sub-sample of students is randomly selected for responding to a semi-structured interview following a mixed methods design. Recruitment is done through mail invitation from student associations and presentations in university classes. Half of the sample of the trial plays the Escape Game, while the other half receives an email with mental health-related information. Within the game, students discuss their personal experiences. The text is further used for the qualitative analyses. The whole study is carried out online.
Results:
The EscapeCovid Game has been developed, tested and finalized by the end of March 2023. As of November 4th 2024, 191 students have answered the baseline questionnaire (90 intervention vs. 101 control). Twenty-three students have played the game and 53 are in the control arm. Among participants, by the end of September 2023, 20 were interviewed (10 intervention vs. 10 control) reaching the saturation of the sample. According to preliminary results, the EscapeCovid Game has had a positive impact on all defined outcomes, while the email has been effective in increasing knowledge on resources available and on coping strategies and meditation techniques. We expect the trial to be completed by the end of June 2025.
Conclusions:
The mixed-methods findings of this study are due to demonstrate the effectiveness of the EscapeCovid Game in improving students’ mental health outcomes. Preliminary results from the qualitative sub-study are promising: in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, this intervention is intended to promote players’ mental health through gamification, knowledge transfer and a learning-by-doing approach. Clinical Trial: Pending
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