Development of a serious game for learning about safe sex and contraception in adolescence

Tamashiro, Lilian Mayumi Chinen; Fonseca, Luciana Mara Monti

doi:10.1590/1518-8345.7036.4182

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Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem

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Original Article • Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem 32 • 2024 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.7036.4182 copy

Development of a serious game for learning about safe sex and contraception in adolescence ^* * The publication of this article in the Thematic Series “Human Resources in Health and Nursing” is part of Activity 2.2 of Reference Term 2 of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Brazil. Paper extracted from doctoral dissertation “Develpment of a digital educational technology about safe sexual practice and contraception with adolescents”, presented to Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) - Finance Code 001, Brazil and supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Grant #2016/09102-9, Brazil.

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Objectives:

to develop a serious game in a mobile application for learning about safe sex and contraception with the active participation of adolescents; and evaluate the content, appearance and usability of the technology with adolescents and experts.

Method:

this is an applied research project into the development of a serious game, carried out in two stages: development of the technology itself; and evaluation of the content, appearance and usability of the application. Teenagers from a public school in the city of São Paulo-Brazil took part in the technology development stage. The evaluation was carried out by the adolescents and experts in the areas of public health and health technology. The following criteria were used: educational aspects, environment interface and didactic resources.

Results:

Prinventon App ^® was developed, a serious game set in a virtual city, designed to address adolescent sexuality. The app received 90% positive responses and had a Content Validity Index of 0.80, which was considered adequate. The suggestions and notes were accepted and implemented. The serious game was considered interesting and important in terms of the subject matter.

Conclusion:

it was found that the technology developed can help adolescents learn about safe sex and contraception, by addressing sexuality in adolescence in a playful and realistic way.

Descriptors:
Adolescent Health; Sexuality; Health Education; Contraception; Mobile Applications; Technology

Highlights:

(1) Development of technology with the active participation of adolescents.

(2) Game about safe sex and contraception compatible with the Android system.

(3) User-friendly interface that leads teenagers to interact with the proposed theme.

(4) Playful and realistic technology that addresses adolescent sexuality.

(5) Addresses how to use contraceptives, their effectiveness, benefits and side effects.

Key expressions	Central idea
It’s a subject everyone talks about, something everyone does. She started dating and, less than a month later, she was taking it every day.	Sexual practice
I don’t use the pill because I forget too much. People, if you take medicine, you can get pregnant. So I already take injections.	Contraceptive methods
[Pregnancy happens] sometimes the girl isn’t guided. A friend at school who got pregnant and didn’t even realize it	Pregnancy
How do you find out if you’re infected with HIV ^ * HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus; ?* At the beginning of sex, halfway through, then I become aware.	STIs ^† † ISTs = Sexually Transmitted Infections
It would be good to talk about pregnancy, condoms and, above all, the disease. How you use the methods, the chance of getting pregnant, what to do when you forget, how long you’ve been protected for. It would be very interesting [the game], I would play it.	Play

Items	PD ^† † PD = Partially Disagree; 2	I ^‡ ‡ I = Indifferent; 3	PA ^§ § PA = Partially Agree; 4	SA ^\|\| \|\| SA = Strongly Agree 5
The topic is relevant to the target audience (teenagers).	0	0	0	4
The app addresses the topic of safe sex and contraception.	0	0	0	4
The text is short, clear and coherent.	0	0	3	1
The vocabulary corresponds to adolescent language.	0	0	1	3
The content is sufficient.	0	0	3	1
The information is current and in line with the Ministry of Health.	0	0	1	3
It was easy to download the app.	0	1	1	2
I liked the name of the game.	1	1	2	0
The game buttons worked perfectly.	0	0	0	4
The content is well organized in the game.	0	0	1	3
I liked the colors of the game and the font used in the text.	0	0	1	3
The amount of information on each screen is satisfactory.	0	1	1	2
I didn’t encounter any bugs or glitches while playing.	0	0	0	4
I found the game very interactive.	0	1	1	2
I found the figures, images and photos to be of good quality.	0	0	2	2
The game’s soundtrack is in keeping with the style of the game.	0	1	1	2
I was able to explore the entire game.	0	0	1	3
I found the game dynamic.	0	2	1	1
I would recommend the app to anyone.	0	0	3	1
I believe that adolescents can change their sexual and reproductive behavior through the influence of the game.	0	0	3	1

Items	SD ^* * SD = Strongly Disagree; 1	PD ^† † PD = Partially Disagree; 2	I ^‡ ‡ I = Indifferent; 3	PA ^§ § PA = Partially Agree; 4	SA ^\|\| \|\| SA = Strongly Agree 5
The topic is relevant to the target audience (teenagers).	0	0	0	1	7
The app addresses the topic of safe sex and contraception.	0	0	0	3	5
The text is short, clear and coherent.	0	0	1	4	3
The vocabulary corresponds to adolescent language.	0	0	2	4	2
The content is sufficient.	0	1	1	1	5
The information is current and in line with the Ministry of Health.	0	0	0	4	4
It was easy to download the app.	0	1	3	1	3
I liked the name of the game.	0	1	4	2	1
The game buttons worked perfectly.	0	1	2	2	3
The content is well organized in the game.	0	0	2	4	2
I liked the colors of the game and the font used in the text.	0	0	1	4	3
The amount of information on each screen is satisfactory.	0	0	2	4	2
I didn’t encounter any bugs or glitches while playing.	1	2	1	1	3
I found the game very interactive.	0	0	1	3	4
I found the figures, images and photos to be of good quality.	0	0	2	5	1
The game’s soundtrack is in keeping with the style of the game.	0	1	1	3	3
I was able to explore the entire game.	0	0	0	1	7
I found the game dynamic.	0	0	0	5	3
I found the game very interactive.	0	0	0	6	2
I believe that adolescents can change their sexual and reproductive behavior through the influence of the game.	0	1	0	5	2

Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 (16) 3315-3451 / 3315-4407 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rlae@eerp.usp.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Lilian Mayumi Chinen Tamashiro E-mail: lih.chinen@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4116-1014