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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Feb;36(3):322-328.
doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1667371. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

The Use of a Game-Based Decision Aid to Educate Pregnant Women about Prenatal Screening: A Randomized Controlled Study

Erin Rothwell  1   2 , Erin Johnson  1   2 , Bob Wong  1 , Nancy C Rose  1   3 , Gwen Latendresse  1   2 , Roger Altizer  1 , Jose Zagal  1 , Marcela Smid  1 , Abby Watson  1 , Jeffrey R Botkin  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The Use of a Game-Based Decision Aid to Educate Pregnant Women about Prenatal Screening: A Randomized Controlled Study

Erin Rothwell et al. Am J Perinatol. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: This project developed and evaluated the efficacy of a game decision aid among pregnant women about prenatal screening in a randomized controlled study.

Study design: Participants were recruited from an obstetric clinic of an academic urban medical center and randomized (n = 73) to one of two study groups: the control group (n = 39) that used a brochure or the intervention group (n = 34) that also used a game decision aid.

Result: Participants who played the game had higher knowledge scores (m = 21.41, standard deviation [SD] = 1.74) than participants in the control group (m = 19.59; SD = 3.31), p = 0.004. The median time of game playing was 6:43 minutes (range: 2:17-16:44). The groups were similar in frequency of completing screening after the study, control = 6 (15%) versus intervention = 11 (32%), p = 0.087. However, the more interaction with the game resulted in more positive attitudes toward screening.

Conclusion: The addition of a game decision aid was effective in educating pregnant women about prenatal screening. As other genetic testing decisions continue to increase within clinical care, game-based decision tools may be a constructive method of informed decision-making.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pregnant women by age.
Fig.2
Fig.2
Avatars.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
CONSORT flow diagram. OB, obstetric.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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