A Serious Game “DiaPed”: Impact on Therapeutic Education for Children with Type 1 Diabetes in Tunisia

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the serious game DiaPed on the knowledge of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Introduction: Type 1 diabetes in children requires lifelong insulin therapy along with comprehensive therapeutic patient education (TPE). Traditional TPE approaches often fall short, highlighting the need for innovative tools such as serious games. Methods: A pre-post interventional study was conducted with 40 children with T1D at a pediatric diabetes clinic in Tunisia. Participants engaged with DiaPed, a serious game designed to teach the basics of T1D, insulin therapy, and hypoglycemia management. Results: Knowledge scores improved significantly following gameplay, increasing from 29.8 ± 6.02 to 68.6 ± 1.58 (P < .001). The effect size, as measured by Cohen’s index, was 6.72. Satisfaction surveys indicated high levels of engagement and enthusiasm among participants. Conclusion: DiaPed significantly improved diabetes-related knowledge in children with T1D, highlighting its potential as an effective tool for TPE.