Dataset Information

The Impact of a Gameful Breathing Training Visualization on Intrinsic Experiential Value, Perceived Effectiveness, and Engagement Intentions: Between-Subject Online Experiment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Slow-paced breathing has been shown to be positively associated with psychological and physiological health. In practice, however, there is little long-term engagement with breathing training, as shown by the usage statistics of breathing training apps. New research suggests that gameful smartphone-delivered breathing training may address this challenge.

Objective

This study assesses the impact of breathing training, guided by a gameful visualization, on perceived experiential and instrumental values and the intention to engage in such training.

Methods

A between-subject online experiment with 170 participants was conducted, and one-way multiple analysis of variance and two-tailed t test analyses were used to test for any difference in intrinsic experiential value, perceived effectiveness, and the intention to engage in either a breathing training with a gameful or a nongameful guidance visualization. Moreover, prior experience in gaming and meditation practices were assessed as moderator variables for a preliminary analysis.

Results

The intrinsic experiential value for the gameful visualization was found to be significantly higher compared to the nongameful visualization (P=.001), but there was no difference in either perceived effectiveness (P=.50) or the intention to engage (P=.44). The preliminary analysis of the influence of meditation and gaming experience on the outcomes indicates that people with more meditation experience yielded higher intrinsic experiential values from using the gameful visualization than people with no or little meditation experience (P=.03). This analysis did not find any additional evidence of gaming time or meditation experience impacting the outcomes.

Conclusions

The gameful visualization was found to increase the intrinsic experiential value of the breathing training without decreasing the perceived effectiveness. However, there were no differences in intentions to engage in both breathing training conditions. Furthermore, gaming and meditation experiences seem to have no or only a small positive moderating effect on the relationship between the gameful visualization and the intrinsic experiential value. Future longitudinal field studies are required to assess the impact of gameful breathing training on actual behavior, that is, long-term engagement and outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Lukic YX

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8479602 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundSlow-paced breathing training (6 breaths per minute [BPM]) improves physiological and psychological well-being by inducing relaxation characterized by increased heart rate variability (HRV). However, classic breathing training has a limited target group, and retention rates are very low. Although a gameful approach may help overcome these challenges, it is crucial to enable breathing training in a scalable context (eg, smartphone only) and ensure that they remain effective. However, despite the health benefits, no validated mobile gameful breathing training featuring a biofeedback component based on breathing seems to exist.ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the design choices and their implementation in a concrete mobile gameful breathing training app. Furthermore, it aims to deliver an initial validation of the efficacy of the resulting app.MethodsPrevious work was used to derive informed design choices, which, in turn, were applied to build the gameful breathing training app Breeze. In a pretest (n=3), design weaknesses in Breeze were identified, and Breeze was adjusted accordingly. The app was then evaluated in a pilot study (n=16). To ascertain that the effectiveness was maintained, recordings of breathing rates and HRV-derived measures (eg, root mean square of the successive differences [RMSSDs]) were collected. We compared 3 stages: baseline, standard breathing training deployed on a smartphone, and Breeze.ResultsOverall, 5 design choices were made: use of cool colors, natural settings, tightly incorporated game elements, game mechanics reflecting physiological measures, and a light narrative and progression model. Breeze was effective, as it resulted in a slow-paced breathing rate of 6 BPM, which, in turn, resulted in significantly increased HRV measures compared with baseline (P<.001 for RMSSD). In general, the app was perceived positively by the participants. However, some criticized the somewhat weaker clarity of the breathing instructions when compared with a standard breathing training app.ConclusionsThe implemented breathing training app Breeze maintained its efficacy despite the use of game elements. Moreover, the app was positively perceived by participants although there was room for improvement.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Kenya's new constitution passed in 2010 recognizes the right of quality care resulting in the devolution of health service delivery to the sub-national units called counties in 2013. However, the health system performance continues to be poor. The main identified challenge is poor health systems leadership. Evidence shows that addressing health system leadership challenges using different leadership intervention models has the potential to improve health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to report findings on the effect of project-based experiential learning on the health service delivery indicators addressed by 15 health management teams from 13 counties in Kenya, as compared to the non-trained managers. METHODS:A quasi-experimental design without a random sample was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the leadership program. The health managers from the 13 Counties and 15 health facilities had previously undergone a 9-month leadership training, complimented with facility-based team coaching based on 15 priority institutional service improvement projects at the Strathmore University Business School. Pre-test and post-test data were collected in three-point periods (beginning, end of the training, and 24-to-60?months post-training). The control group comprised 14 other health institutions within the same counties. RESULTS:Leadership training and coaching built around priority institutional health service improvement projects in the intervention institutions showed: a) skilled birth attendance increased, on average, by 71%; b) full immunization of children, increased by 52%; c) utilization of in and out-patient services, which on average, increased by 90%; d) out-patient turn-around time reduced on average by 65% and; e) quality and customer satisfaction increased by 38.8% (in all the intervention facilities). These improvements were sustained for 60?months after the leadership training. In contrast, there were minimal improvements in service delivery indicators in the comparison institution over the same period of time. Ninety-three percent of the respondents attributed team-coaching built around priority institutional health service improvement projects as a key enabler to their success. CONCLUSIONS:The study provides support that an intervention underpinned by challenge driven learning and team coaching can improve a range of health service delivery outcome variables.

Project description:Young Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) continue to face disproportionate HIV risk. Despite its well accepted role in HIV prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake remains below desired goals. Systemic barriers to PrEP access, including insurance complexity, cost, and wait times to start PrEP may contribute to low PrEP engagement. We conducted in-depth interviews and designed a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to assess preferences for and barriers to PrEP access in the United States.MethodsWe conducted in-depth interviews with 18 MSM aged 18-30 years old who were not on PrEP and created a DCE based on the results. For the DCE, a convenience sample of young MSM in the United States who reported recent condomless anal sex was recruited through social media applications. Consenting participants provided sociodemographic information and responded to a series of 10 choice tasks about PrEP access. Preferences were analyzed utilizing marginal willingness-to-pay (mWTP) methods.ResultsIn-depth interviews revealed preferences for highly effective PrEP and concerns about barriers to access due to insurance coverage and privacy. The online DCE was completed by 236 eligible MSM aged 18-30. The most-preferred PrEP package-with all elements significantly preferred over other options-was insurance covered, could be maintained confidential from parents and employers, was available immediately, and had an online option. Need to take out new insurance or add a supplemental insurance in order to cover PrEP significantly detracted from willingness to pay for a PrEP program. Attributes most associated with willingness to pay for PrEP were PrEP being covered by an insurance the client already has and insurance coverage that was private.ConclusionsYoung MSM at high risk for HIV in the United States who are not currently on PrEP showed strong preferences for PrEP options that were covered by insurance and could be kept confidential from parents and employers. Lack of these options may present major barriers to PrEP access among young MSM who are at particularly high risk. Rapid access to PrEP, as well as the option of receiving some care online, may also enhance PrEP uptake.

Project description:Proteins from the intrinsically disordered group (IDP) focus the attention of many researchers engaged in protein structure analysis. The main criteria used in their identification are lack of secondary structure and significant structural variability. This variability takes forms that cannot be identified in the X-ray technique. In the present study, different criteria were used to assess the status of IDP proteins and their fragments recognized as intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). The status of the hydrophobic core in proteins identified as IDPs and in their complexes was assessed. The status of IDRs as components of the ordering structure resulting from the construction of the hydrophobic core was also assessed. The hydrophobic core is understood as a structure encompassing the entire molecule in the form of a centrally located high concentration of hydrophobicity and a shell with a gradually decreasing level of hydrophobicity until it reaches a level close to zero on the protein surface. It is a model assuming that the protein folding process follows a micellization pattern aiming at exposing polar residues on the surface, with the simultaneous isolation of hydrophobic amino acids from the polar aquatic environment. The use of the model of hydrophobicity distribution in proteins in the form of the 3D Gaussian distribution described on the protein particle introduces the possibility of assessing the degree of similarity to the assumed micelle-like distribution and also enables the identification of deviations and mismatch between the actual distribution and the idealized distribution. The FOD (fuzzy oil drop) model and its modified FOD-M version allow for the quantitative assessment of these differences and the assessment of the relationship of these areas to the protein function. In the present work, the sections of IDRs in protein complexes classified as IDPs are analyzed. The classification "disordered" in the structural sense (lack of secondary structure or high flexibility) does not always entail a mismatch with the structure of the hydrophobic core. Particularly, the interface area, often consisting of IDRs, in many analyzed complexes shows the compliance of the hydrophobicity distribution with the idealized distribution, which proves that matching to the structure of the hydrophobic core does not require secondary structure ordering.