Development and Evaluation of Diet- and Health-themed Board Game Products for the Elderly

Abstract

In this study, we employed design-based research (DBR) to develop a board game aimed at seniors. The board game, named “Eat for Good Health”, offers three game modes, ranging from basic to advanced, to allow players to choose the appropriate mode based on their abilities, time constraints, and activity preferences. Additionally, players can use QR codes in place of event cards and scan them to access more information and videos about healthy eating and disease prevention. To determine players’ satisfaction with the board game, 37 graduate students were selected to serve as senior board game instructors and help teach seniors how to play the game. A survey questionnaire was used to collect feedback from players, with a six-point Likert scale used for analysis. The scale consisted of 12 questions and the average score was above 5, indicating that participants had a positive view of the board game product. This study highlights the importance of considering the vision and legibility of elderly individuals in product design. It also suggests that board games can be integrated with lectures on diet and health in future health promotion efforts.