Table 2.
Study Characteristics
| References | Aim | Domain | Study design | Modality | Participants and technology proficiency (TP) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boot and colleagues (2016) | Examining older adults’ perceptions and attitudes toward game-based interventions after playing digital games on a tablet (experimental or control games) | Cognitive health | A 1-month randomized, controlled experiment. Participants randomized to experimental and control groups. ~45 min sessions of game play/7 times per week in both groups. Game play tracked in a diary. Survey at the end of intervention. | Tablet (Acer Iconia A700) /Game | N = 55, aged 65+ TP: On average low proficiency (18.87 (SD = 9.74) out of 40, on a Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire) | United States |
| Dugas and colleagues (2018) | Investigating via a gamified mHealth tool how individual differences in psychological traits are associated with mHealth effectiveness | Physical health | A 13-week, randomized, controlled pilot study. Patients randomized to control (no app, care as usual) or one of 4 conditions using different versions of the app. | Tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab 3) and activity monitor (Fitbit One)/mHealth tool | N = 27, veterans with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes. Mean age = 67.56, SD = 5.81. Gender not reported exactly. TP: not reported. | United States |
| Hiraoka, Wang, and Kawakami (2016) | Proposing and evaluating a game-based cognitive function training system for elderly drivers | Cognitive health | A laboratory study conducted in 7 sessions. Half of the participants trained at home with a tablet in addition to the laboratory sessions, half performed only on-site training in the laboratory. | Tablet/Driving training system | N = 11, elderly males. Mean age = 69.82, SD = 3.57. TP: none of the participants had experience with tablet devices before the study. | Japan |
| Li, Theng, and Foo (2016) | Examining the influence of high and low playfulness exergames on depression | Mental health | A 6-week randomized, controlled study. Participants randomized to two different exergaming conditions. | Gaming console (Nintendo Wii)/Exergame | N = 49, older adults with subthreshold depression. Mean age = 71.12, SD = 8.67; female = 59.20%. TP: not reported. | Singapore |
| Savulich and colleagues (2017) | Examining the effects of cognitive training using a novel memory game developed by the team on patients with a diagnosis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment | Cognitive health | A 4-week randomized, controlled trial with 8 1-hr supervised training sessions. Participants randomized to 2 groups: intervention or care as usual. | Tablet (iPad)/Learning and memory game | N = 42, patients with mild cognitive impairment. Mean age in intervention 75.2, SD = 7.4; in control: 76.9, SD = 8.3. Gender in intervention 11 males, 10 females; in control 14 males, 7 females. TP: Internet usage hr/week Intervention 2.2 hr (SD = 6.6); Control 2.3 hr (SD = 4.5) Computer gameplay hr/week Intervention 0.9 hr (SD = 2.1); Control 0.7 hr (SD = 1.9) Confidence using new technology Intervention: 11 participants very confident; 2 confident; 3 apprehensive; 4 very apprehensive Control: 13 participants very confident; 4 confident; 1 apprehensive; 3 very apprehensive | UK |
| Scase and colleagues (2017) | Examining the adherence to a tablet-based gamified environment designed to promote health and well-being in older people with mild cognitive impairment | Cognitive and physical health | A 47-day intervention where participants living either (i) at a retirement village or (ii) separately across the city were asked to interact with the solution 5 days a week. | Tablet/DOREMI application to promote cognition and exercise | N = 24 (consisting of 2 different samples). Older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Two participants groups (1) N =11, mean age = 75.4, SD = 5.14, 1 male, (2) N = 13, mean age = 74.9, SD = 3.68, 1 male. TP: not reported. | N/A |
| Souders and colleagues (2017) | Examining the difference of using a gamified cognitive training suite compared to playing word and number puzzles in transfer of cognitive effects to similar tasks | Cognitive health | A randomized controlled study, 1-month intervention. Participants randomized to gamified group and active control group. Instructions to play 45 min/d in both groups. Playtime recorded in journals. | Tablet (Acer Iconia A700)/Cognitive training system | N = 60. Mean age = 72.35, SD = 5.20. Males 26, females 34. TP: not reported. | United States |
| Su and Cheng (2016) | Examining the effectiveness of a developed motion-based 3D game in total knee replacement rehabilitation on patient’s self-efficacy | Physical health | A quasi-experiment, 2-month intervention. Participants randomized to intervention condition with the game or to control condition with routine physiotherapy exercises. | Gaming console (Microsoft Kinect)/Rehabilitation system | N = 34. Intervention mean age = 65.88, SD = 4.296, control mean age = 68.56, SD = 2.897. Intervention: female 9, male 9; control: female 9, male 7. TP: Experience in using motion capture tools Intervention: 9 have experience; 9 no experience Control: 6 have experience; 10 no experience | Taiwan |
| Wagner and Minge (2015) | Examining subjective enjoyment and motivational effects of game elements by providing different sociable gameplay conditions | Human–computer interaction | A randomized, controlled laboratory experiment. Participants invited in pairs knowing each other beforehand and randomly assigned to 3 conditions as pairs. | Online dice game on a personal computer | N = 36. Mean age = 69.9, half of the participants were female. TP: not reported. | Germany |
| Katajapuu and colleagues (2017) | Examining the effects of developed exergames on changes in body functions and activity level | Physical health | A 6-week randomized, controlled study. Participants randomized to 3 conditions: intervention with exergames, normal physiotherapy, and control with no activity. | Gaming console (Microsoft Kinect)/Exergames | N = 30. Mean age = 71.34, SD = 6.62. Male 9, female 21. TP: not reported. | Singapore |
| Steinert, Buchem, Merceron, Kreutel, and Haesner (2018) | Examining the usability, acceptance, and effectiveness of a novel wearable-enhanced mHealth system | Physical health | A 4-week pilot study. A training program consisting of 3 training days and 4 recovery days per week. | Smartphone (Nexus 5 or Samsung Galaxy 5) and Activity monitor (Garmin Vivofit) enhanced training system/mHealth system | N = 20. Mean age = 69, age range 62–75 years. TP: Participants had high digital literacy 70% of participants using smartphones frequently; 90% using computers frequently; 90% using the Internet frequently; 30% using a tablet device Technology commitment score Mean 46 points (a 12–60 point scale) showing high technology commitment | Germany |
| Sun, Qiu, and Zuo (2017) | Examining the effect of gamification for improving learning processes and performance for seniors. A system for learning to use a ticket vending machine developed | Cognitive health | A controlled laboratory experiment. Participants in 4 conditions: badge, story, badge + story, and control. | Kiosk (Ticket Vending Machine) | N = 9. Age > 60. Female 8, male 1. TP: none of the participants had used the ticket vending machine before. | China |