Video games help clear airways in kids with cystic fibrosis
Many children with cystic fibrosis – the world’s most common hereditary lung disease – don’t stick with the regimen of exercises they need to clear up their blocked airways.
But many do love playing video games… so to exploit that penchant, scientists have developed gaming software that encourages them to adhere to airway clearance techniques.
"These are kids who are often lonely and frustrated with their medical treatments," says study researcher Peter Bingham of the University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care.
But he adds, “Kids were avid to play the games. They only played them for a few minutes, but it was long enough to make an improvement in their breathing.”
In order to dislodge the mucus buildup in the airways, patients have to do breathing maneuvers several times a day. These forced exhalations are called ‘huffing.’
"The medical goal of the games was to increase breathing maneuvers that respiratory therapists believe can help keep the airways of cystic fibrosis patients clearer," Bingham explains.
Instead of using a handheld controller, the game is controlled by a digital spirometer – a device that measures how fast and how much air the player breathes out.
- In one game, the player's breath drives the movement of a speeding racecar down a track. It also allows the player to fill up the gas tank and wash the car.
- In another, the player looks for treasure while exploring a wilderness. When the player encounters an animal covered in slime, he or she must blow the slime off the animal in order to earn more treasure (pictured above).
The study involved 13 patients ages 8 to 18, who first underwent pulmonary function tests. Then they participated in a game phase and a control phase for 2 to 4 weeks each. For each phase, they were given a computer and a spirometer. During the game phase, they also had the gaming spirometer. They played at will.
- Few of them carried out the recommended huffing with any regularity beforehand, but they were huffing much more during the study. Their breathing performance improved, along with their pulmonary function.
And their ability to take a deep breath (called ‘vital capacity’) improved significantly only after game play. Bingham thinks it might be that the player's ability to carry out the vital capacity test improved simply since they were practicing more often.
"I think it's ethical and appropriate to meet kids 'where they are' with some engaging, digital games that can help them take charge of their own health,” he adds.
The games were developed in collaboration with the Game Design program at Vermont's Champlain College based on the game-playing habits and preferences of children with cystic fibrosis.
The work was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting this past weekend.
Images: Fletcher Allen Health Care via Fast Company
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com