Digital health promotion in schools – a serious games approach for cardiovascular health education in Nepal

PURPOSE & AIM: 80% of non-communicable disease deaths globally occur in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal, cardiovascular diseases being most common.

We contribute to reduced morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease through increased knowledge transfer by creating, implementing and evaluating a novel digital tool (a serious game) for cardiovascular health promotion.PROJECT ORGANISATION: Sweden: University of Skövde (public health, informatics).

Nepal: Kathmandu Medical College (community medicine), Tribhuvan University & Patan Academy of Health Sciences (med. sociology).

TIME PLAN & METHODS: 2021: Cross-sectional study; knowledge, attitude and practice of parents and school-children grades 6-10; Assess preparedness for digital health promotion in schools via focus group discussions and interviews. 2022-2023: Develop and pilot a serious game targeting diet and physical activity in a school setting. 2023: Health economic evaluation including measuring Health-Related Quality of Life and Cost Utility Analysis and dissemination.

SIGNIFICANCE: We apply a digital tool for health promotion in schools, a new, unique approach to prevent and reduce morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. This aligns well with Nepal’s plan to prevent and control non-communicable diseases. Our results can be applied in other low-income countries as well as in Sweden.

The project contributes to UN sustainable development goals 3, 9 and 17.