A Story-Based Game to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Compliance in Hemodialysis Patients: RCT

Afra ÇALIK

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hemodialysis; Adherence; Game-Based Learning; Anxiety

Treatments: Behavioral: Story-Based Digital Game

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07156942

9566

Scientific Research Projects C (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This clinical study is testing whether a short, story-based digital game played during dialysis can help improve the health and well-being of patients receiving hemodialysis. The researchers believe that using a digital game with an engaging storyline may help reduce anxiety, increase knowledge about healthy eating, and encourage patients to better follow their treatment plans.

The main hypothesis is that this interactive game will lead to lower anxiety levels, better understanding of dietary rules, and higher treatment adherence compared to standard care alone.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged between 18 and 80 years
• Receiving regular hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months
• Oriented to time, place, and person
• Minimum primary school education
• Able and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Refusal to participate in the study
• Inability to provide informed consent due to cognitive or communication difficulties

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Story-Based Digital Game

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm received a short, story-based digital game intervention during their hemodialysis sessions. The game was played once per week for 4 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 10-15 minutes. The game aimed to reduce anxiety, improve treatment adherence, and increase dietary knowledge by engaging patients in interactive scenarios related to dialysis care.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Story-Based Digital Game

Standard Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this arm received standard hemodialysis care without any additional digital game or educational intervention. They followed the usual treatment routines provided by the dialysis unit.