NIH Wants to Educate Children About Clinical Trials Using Video Games

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says it wants to better inform potential participants of clinical trials about the risks, benefits, and misconceptions surrounding clinical research. Unlike previous efforts involving websites, pamphlets and advertisements, however, it wants to employ something new: video games.

In a Federal Register posting on 13 June, NIH said it was contracting with the New England Research Institute (NERI) to develop a video game on behalf of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The game, entitled "Clinical Mythteries: A Video Game About Clinical Trials," will reportedly be aimed at adolescents between the ages of eight and fourteen.

NIH explained the game will be an "engaging, informational, serious video game" serving to advance two main goals: dispelling misconceptions about clinical trials and educating adolescents about clinical trials.

The game will eventually be featured on the NHLBI's pediatric clinical trials website, where it will be featured among more traditional forms of information.

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NIH - Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Clinical Mythteries: A Video Game About Clinical Trials