The paper introduces an interactive computer game that teaches potential heart attack victims to respond quickly to early warning signs of a heart attack by acknowledging the possibility of a heart attack and immediately calling 911. Studies suggest that computer-based patient education improves many dimensions of health and health care, including prevention, compliance, and patient choices about treatment options. To assist with developing such training devices, this game pioneers a generic simulator consistent with patient behavior change theory, and it includes re-programmable virtual personas that can be applied to other health topics in addition to heart attack domains. The paper and related research was conducted with financial support from the National Institute of Health s National Heart Attack Alert Program and the National Library of Medicine. Behavior theorists contend that the most effective interventions are those directed at a single behavior rather than at multiple behaviors.
Actors portraying patients, emergency medical technicians, and physicians speak to the users.
In all the modules, a heart-shaped character accompanies participants. She furnishes cues, offers companionship, and provides a bit of entertainment. By helping virtual people diagnose their symptoms and convincing them to call 911 without delay, users learn to take better care of themselves. The scenario depicts a man who ignores heart attack symptoms, collapses, and must be rushed by ambulance to the emergency room, where it is too late to revive him. The virtual cases will ultimately contain many people having various types of heart attacks or false symptoms.