Gamification in e-Health: strategies for oral health

Authors

  • Inês Castro FCS-UFP, Fernando Pessoa University, 4240-004, Porto, Portugal
  • Maria Inês Guimarães RISE-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Fernando Pessoa Teaching and Culture Foundation, Rua Carlos da Maia 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal; INMLCF, I. P., North Delegation - National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, I. P., Jardim Carrilho Videira 4050-167 Porto, Portugal; CEISUC, Centre of Investigation in Technologies and Centre for Health Studies and Research of the University of Coimbra, 3004-512 Coimbra, Portugal
  • Sandra Gavinha RISE-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Fernando Pessoa Teaching and Culture Foundation, Rua Carlos da Maia 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
  • Pedro Lopes Ferreira CEISUC, Centre of Investigation in Technologies and Centre for Health Studies and Research of the University of Coimbra, 3004-512 Coimbra, Portugal
  • Isabel Silva UFP, FP-B2S, CINTESIS, 4240-004, Porto, Portugal
  • Nuno Ribeiro Fernando Pessoa University, FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Fernando Pessoa Teaching and Culture Foundation, Rua Carlos da Maia 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
  • Cristina Cardoso Silva FCS-UFP, Fernando Pessoa University, 4240-004, Porto, Portugal; Fernando Pessoa University, FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Fernando Pessoa Teaching and Culture Foundation, Rua Carlos da Maia 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
  • Augusta Silveira RISE-Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Fernando Pessoa Teaching and Culture Foundation, Rua Carlos da Maia 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal; CEISUC, Centre of Investigation in Technologies and Centre for Health Studies and Research of the University of Coimbra, 3004-512 Coimbra, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48797/sl.2025.312

Keywords:

Poster

Abstract

Background: Gamification in healthcare is an innovative approach that uses game elements to motivate and engage patients in healthy behaviors. Gamification in oral health uses various game elements to create engaging and motivating experiences for patients [1-7]. Some of the most common elements include goals and challenges to achieve, rewards to obtain, competition, feedback, and the creation of an engaging narrative [1-7]. Objective: To analyze the benefits of using gamification to promote Oral Health. To present implementation models that have been successful in the last 3 years. Methods: A search was made in PubMed, Cochrane Library, B-On, and Scielo, considering articles published between 2020 and 2025, in English and Portuguese. The study selection strategy followed the PICO framework (Population: oral health patients; Intervention: gamification in oral health promotion; Comparison: other oral health promotion strategies; Outcome: improved oral health practices). The selection and analysis of studies were carried out according to PRISMA recommendations. Results: Gamification in healthcare can bring several benefits, both to patients and healthcare professionals. Some of the main benefits include: increased adherence to treatments: gamification can make treatments more fun and engaging, which can increase patient adherence; promotion of healthy habits: gamification can encourage physical exercise, healthy eating, optimized oral hygiene habits, dentist monitoring and other oral health-promoting behaviors; improved management of chronic diseases: gamification can assist in the management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension or periodontal disease, by making monitoring and treatment more fun and engaging; reduction of stress and anxiety by providing a fun and relaxing experience; improved communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Gamification and e-health are interdependent: gamification enhances user engagement in e-health through game elements, while e-health broadens the application and personalization of gamification in healthcare. In oral health, gamification improves motivation, facilitates learning, encourages long-term hygiene habits, and reduces dental anxiety, representing a key strategy in global oral health promotion.

References

1. Zhang, S., Hasim, Z. Gamification in EFL/ESL instruction: A systematic review of empirical research. Front Psychol. 2023, 13, 1030790, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1030790.

2. Krishnamurthy, K. et al. Benefits of gamification in medical education. Clin Anat. 2022, 35(6), 795-807, doi: 10.1002/ca.23916.

3. Sardi, L. et al. A systematic review of gamification in e-Health. J Biomed Inform. 2017, 71, 31-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2017.05.011.

4. Hope, D.L. et al. Gamification in pharmacy education: a systematic quantitative literature review. Int J Pharm Pract. 2023, 31(1), 15-31, doi: 10.1093/ijpp/riac099.

5. Hua, F. Dental patient-reported outcomes update 2022. J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2023, 23(1S), 101802, doi: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2022.101802.

6. Moreira, R. et al. Gamification and Oral Health in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review. Interact J Med Res. 2024, 13, e35132, doi: 10.2196/35132.

7. Johnson, D. et al. Gamification for health and wellbeing: a systematic review of the literature. Internet Interv. 2016, 6, 89-106, doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2016.10.002

Downloads

Published

2025-05-27

How to Cite

Castro, I., Guimarães, M. I., Gavinha, S., Lopes Ferreira, P., Silva, I., Ribeiro, N., Cardoso Silva, C., & Silveira, A. (2025). Gamification in e-Health: strategies for oral health. Scientific Letters, 1(Sup 1). https://doi.org/10.48797/sl.2025.312

Issue

Vol. 1 No. Sup 1 (2025)

Section

Posters

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Inês Castro, Maria Inês Guimarães, Sandra Gavinha, Pedro Lopes Ferreira, Isabel Silva, Nuno Ribeiro, Cristina Cardoso Silva, Augusta Silveira

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

In Scientific Letters, articles are published under a CC-BY license (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License), the most open license available. The users can share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially), as long as they give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made (read the full text of the license terms and conditions of use).

The author is the owner of the copyright.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >> 

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.