A new digital dragon pet game could help smokers quit. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR).
Smoking remains the leading cause of premature death in the United States, where the study was conducted. More than 16 million Americans suffer from smoking-related diseases. It also causes the death of 500 thousand people a year.
Scientists evaluated the effectiveness of the “Inner Dragon” game integrated into the smoking cessation application “Smoke Free”. The user’s task is to take care of the dragon. The longer the participant abstained from smoking, the larger the pet grew. Participants can choose individual characteristics to bond with the dragon and receive additional points by stroking it.
“People often download apps, use them a few times, and then delete or forget about them,” the scientists explained.
The 479 participants were divided into two groups: one with a game, the other without a game. Accessing Inner Dragon increased user activity by 20%. The higher their participation, the more likely they are to quit smoking.
The effect was particularly pronounced among younger participants and those with lower incomes. This may mean that they would benefit most from gamifying smoking cessation. Quitting smoking by young people can significantly reduce the incidence of cancer and heart disease in the future, reducing the burden on healthcare systems. Low-income people will also be able to avoid spending on treating smoking-related diseases.
Previous scientists I learnedIt reveals that smoking after a cancer diagnosis reduces life expectancy by half.
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Source: Gazeta
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