Does Gamification Play a Role in Improving Physical activity in Cardiovascular Disease? A Systematic Review
Code: G-1474
Authors: Pejman Salimi ℗, Fariba Hosseinzadegan *
Schedule: Not Scheduled!
Tag: Clinical Decision Support System
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Abstract:
Abstract
Background and aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a disorder of the cardiovascular system that, due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, requires lifestyle modifications, particularly physical activity (PA), in its management. Today, mobile applications based on gamification have gained prominence in medical sciences, particularly in managing CVD. Accordingly, the present study aims to examine the role of gamification in this area by reviewing existing articles. Method: In the present systematic review, articles were searched for using the keywords" mobile app", "gamification", "cardiovascular disease", and "physical activity" in the databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, Sid, and the Google Scholar search engine. Free, full-text articles written in English from 2010 to 2025 were included in the study, while articles lacking publication dates, those published in non-reputable journals, or those unrelated to the current research were excluded. Ultimately, using the PRISMA checklist, 14 articles were selected for analysis and reporting of findings from a total of 251 articles. Results: Gamification can increase PA by enhancing awareness and motivation; however, it faces several challenges. These challenges include a lack of theoretical models related to game elements and health behaviors, unclear identification of more effective elements, neglect of individual characteristics, and insufficient motivation to start and maintain the use of games. Conclusion: Given that gamification has shown promise in increasing PA among patients with CVD on one hand and has posed challenges on the other, it is recommended that after a more appropriate design considering user experiences and an interdisciplinary approach, the effects of this method should be examined in the long term. Additionally, higher-quality studies should be conducted to integrate gamification in the field of cardiovascular care.
Keywords
Mobile App, Gamification, Cardiovascular Disease, Physical
