CardioCare Quest: A Co-created Game for Improving Hypertension Treatment Compliance in Arizona

Northern Arizona University (NAU)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: High Blood Pressure

Treatments: Behavioral: CardioCare Quest

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06487637

5U54MD012388 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

2117583-6

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project aims to address healthcare disparities among Navaho people diagnosed with hypertension or prehypertension through three main objectives. Firstly, it identifies and shares insights on healthcare access disparities affecting Navaho individuals experiencing nonadherence to hypertension treatment. Secondly, the proposal develops a telehealth solution based on factors identified as knowledge gaps caused by healthcare access disparities in hypertension management; we will use the factors to design a series of engaging minigames that can be incorporated into the larger CardioCare Quest. These minigames will be co-designed with end users and clinicians. Finally, the proposal conducts comprehensive qualitative and quantitative assessments of user experiences, perceptions, and challenges with CardioCare Quest.

Full description

CardioCare Quest is a creative solution to addressing High Blood Pressure (HBP) and improving treatment compliance through a telehealth game, particularly among Navaho populations in Arizona. Integrating a telemetry system is a unique aspect that could offer valuable data on heart-healthy lifestyles in non-traditional clinical settings. The project's primary goals include designing and developing minigames combined with educational modules to enhance HBP treatment adherence and knowledge. Additionally, it seeks to collect preliminary data through a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the game's usability, engagement, and utility. This crucial step precedes the progression towards the R01 application for a comprehensive study evaluating the long-term effectiveness of the game. In Aim 1, the hypothesis is that the resulting affinity diagrams, which prioritize design problem statements, will enable them to share valuable insights on healthcare access disparities. This, in turn, provides crucial knowledge for developing targeted interventions to improve treatment compliance among Indigenous populations. In Aim 2, thematic analysis is applied to codesigned minigame prototypes using an emerging serious game theory. Aim 3 involves using a mixed methods approach to determine the impact of CardioCare Quest's telehealth interventions. The methodology of the CardioCare Quest project involves a participatory design approach that incorporates methods like bodystorming, brainstorming, and affinity diagramming that are tailored to the specific cultural and health needs of Indigenous populations in Arizona. This approach includes developing a series of engaging multiplayer minigames that focus on various aspects of HBP management, like diet, exercise, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• We are interested in interviewing people who receive, give, or are affected by HBP therapy. This includes medical professionals, patients with HBP between the ages of 18 and above, their family members, caretakers, and relevant community professionals such as social workers.
• The project targets Urban Indigenous individuals in the patient category. A potential participant will be recognized as Urban Indigenous upon completing the registration form provided to them.
• The project is interested in Navajo Nation groups that reside in Flagstaff.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with uncontrolled or severely severe hypertension will be excluded from this study since controlling these instances may be the primary emphasis of the study rather than its intervention.
• The exclusion will be based on considerations such as the severity of hypertension, the potential risks associated with uncontrolled hypertension, and the overall health status of the patient.
• Participants having specific medical conditions that could interfere with or pose risks to the study's outcomes (e.g., severe heart disease, advanced kidney disease) will be excluded.
• Pregnant women or those who want to get pregnant during the study period will be excluded due to the potential dangers to both the pregnant woman and the fetus.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 1 patient group

Determine the impact of CardioCare Quest's telehealth interventions

Experimental group

Description:

This project will employ a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods within quarters 4 to 8. The quantitative method includes using the Motivation, Engagement, and Thriving in User Experience (METUX), health measures (i.e., blood pressure measurements), and telemetry to assess user engagement, adherence rates, and health outcomes in CardioCare Quest. The qualitative method will be used to identify key constructs such as motivation, engagement, and overall well-being and choose relevant metrics for each construct, including surveys for motivation, thematic analysis of quotes for engagement, and experience sampling for well-being.

Treatment:

Behavioral: CardioCare Quest