WellQuest™: Serious Health Game to Support Lifestyle Change Program
JPA Health collaborated with CDC’s Innovations to Grow Enrollment and Retention (InGEAR) initiative supporting the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to launch WellQuest™. The cross-platform serious health game was designed to enhance participant retention in the DPP, encourage healthy lifestyle habits , and reinforce diabetes management knowledge.
The Impact
Participants
recorded over 152,000 steps
during the
activation period
Users rated health and wellness tips and achievements most beneficial
20% of users
played the game
10 hours or
more over a
6-month period
The Challenge
The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is working to prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes among high-risk populations by encouraging the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Improving enrollment and retention in the National DPP is one way to help support and sustain intervention efforts. Evidence shows that achievement of body weight and physical activity goals are directly related to the overall number of sessions attended in the National DPP, but retention in the year-long program is a challenge.
Our Approach
To support and increase engagement and overall retention among persons living with prediabetes and at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the National DPP, JPA designed, developed, and launched WellQuest™, a serious health game available for both iOS and Android devices. Applying a user-centered design process, multiple surveys and focus groups helped ensure game design, mechanics, and aesthetics would resonate for the target audience.
The Solution
Our research showed a “Match 3 Gameplay” design that also includes elements for persistent play encouragement would be most effective to reinforce healthy lifestyle choices and create a sense of community. JPA deployed an iterative development process to address feedback from coaches and players, users were able to help shape the final form of the game. The game incorporated biometric data from wearables or mobile devices to incentivize exercise. It incorporated weekly challenges, monthly achievements, and daily in-game health tips centered around 5 key content themes, aligned with the goals of the DPP. Chat functionality enabled coaches to offer words of encouragement and issue custom challenges to individuals and teams, who competed for high rankings on leaderboards.