Finally, for both adult and paediatric patients, playing games with a multiplayer component could deliver further benefits to encourage long-term adherence to chest physiotherapy.
This is particularly exciting given that all CF patients are currently isolated from one another to minimise the risk of cross infection. Playphysio has described a potential mechanism for patients to support each another, interact, and perhaps even compete through computer games which could stimulate a significant positive outcome for patients.
Playphysio is using the concepts of gamification to:
- Generate positive attitudes toward treatment.
- Incentivise children to complete treatment regularly.
- Reward patients for treatment through gamification.
- Track and monitor treatment to show progress and build self-awareness.
- Educate and inform children and parents about treatment.
- Empower children to gain an element of control over their treatment.
- Build a community of ‘players’ so individuals are ‘connected’ not isolated.
- Help build good habits to manage chronic illness.
- Improve health outcomes and quality of life for children.
- Reduce the burden of care for families and carers.
- Reduce treatment time for children.
- Add more fun to the lives of children dealing with chronic illness.
- Reduce costs for healthcare providers.
- Collect patient data to inform future medical research.