Daniel M Rodriguez1, Maree Teesson, Nicola C Newton. 1. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; National Health and Medical Research Council, Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
ISSUES: Serious educational games (SEG) have been shown to be effective in educating young people about a range of topics, including languages and maths. This paper identifies the use of computerised SEGs in education about alcohol and other drugs and reviews their impact on the prevention of alcohol and drug use. APPROACH: The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ERIC, Scopus, psychINFO, pubMED and DRUG databases were searched in February 2013. Additional publications were obtained from the reference lists of the relevant papers. Studies were included if they described an evaluation of a computerised SEG that targeted alcohol and/or other drugs and had been trialled with adolescents. KEY FINDINGS: Eight SEGs were identified targeting tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, methamphetamine, ecstasy, inhalants, cocaine and opioids. Six reported positive outcomes in terms of increased content knowledge and two reported increased negative attitudes towards the targeted drugs. Only one reported a decrease in the frequency of drug use. IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION: This is the first review of the efficacy of computerised SEGs for alcohol and other drugs for adolescents. Results suggest that SEGs can increase content knowledge of alcohol and other drugs. Evidence concerning impacts on negative attitudes and alcohol and drug use is limited, with few studies examining these outcomes.
ISSUES: Serious educational games (SEG) have been shown to be effective in educating young people about a range of topics, including languages and maths. This paper identifies the use of computerised SEGs in education about alcohol and other drugs and reviews their impact on the prevention of alcohol and drug use. APPROACH: The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ERIC, Scopus, psychINFO, pubMED and DRUG databases were searched in February 2013. Additional publications were obtained from the reference lists of the relevant papers. Studies were included if they described an evaluation of a computerised SEG that targeted alcohol and/or other drugs and had been trialled with adolescents. KEY FINDINGS: Eight SEGs were identified targeting tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, methamphetamine, ecstasy, inhalants, cocaine and opioids. Six reported positive outcomes in terms of increased content knowledge and two reported increased negative attitudes towards the targeted drugs. Only one reported a decrease in the frequency of drug use. IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION: This is the first review of the efficacy of computerised SEGs for alcohol and other drugs for adolescents. Results suggest that SEGs can increase content knowledge of alcohol and other drugs. Evidence concerning impacts on negative attitudes and alcohol and drug use is limited, with few studies examining these outcomes.
Authors: Mieke Snijder; Lexine Stapinski; James Ward; Briana Lees; Cath Chapman; Katrina Champion; Michael Doyle; Ian Watson; Rachael Sarra; Amanda Lear; Sophia Garlick Bock; Maree Teesson; Nicola Newton Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-23 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Elizabeth M Ozer; Jonathan Rowe; Kathleen P Tebb; Mark Berna; Carlos Penilla; Alison Giovanelli; Carolyn Jasik; James C Lester Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2020-08 Impact factor: 7.830
Authors: Cristina Giner-Bartolomé; Ana B Fagundo; Isabel Sánchez; Susana Jiménez-Murcia; Juan J Santamaría; Robert Ladouceur; José M Menchón; Fernando Fernández-Aranda Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2015-07-14