"Step Up" Game for High School Students

Overseen By Lindsey Sova, MPH

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: Ohio State University

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

24 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Step Up for STEM and Health Careers?

Programs like the Summer Science Program and the ACTION Program have shown that providing high school students with exposure to healthcare and science careers can increase their interest and success in these fields. These programs have been effective in encouraging students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue education and careers in health and science, suggesting that similar treatments like Step Up for STEM and Health Careers could have positive outcomes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the 'Step Up' Game treatment differ from other treatments for promoting STEM and health careers?

The 'Step Up' Game treatment is unique because it uses game-based learning to engage high school students, particularly from underrepresented minority groups, in STEM and health careers. This approach combines education with interactive gaming to stimulate interest and develop critical thinking skills, which is different from traditional educational methods. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate "Step Up for STEM and Health Careers". The "Step Up for STEM and Health Careers" ("Step Up") game is an interactive, digital resource that includes the key elements of a bystander intervention for high school students to understand the importance of diversity in STEM; it also addresses skills, attitudes, and awareness to attain positive STEM identities and mitigate bias and harassment in STEM and health learning environments. Participants in the intervention arm will be asked to complete the Step Up interactive game; participants in the comparison group will be asked to view a PowerPoint presentation on bias and harassment in STEM/health fields as the control experience. The Step Up game intervention and study outcomes are theory-based (Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)): we will assess the impact of Step Up on attitudes about STEM/health careers, STEM/health career self-efficacy, and bystander behavior.

Research Team

Tim Parsons

Principal Investigator

Resilient Games Studio

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for high school students in grades 9-12 living in the Chicago Metropolitan Area who speak English and have access to a computer with an internet connection. It's designed to see if a game can help them understand diversity in STEM careers.

Inclusion Criteria

I live in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.

I speak English.

I have a computer and internet access.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants in the intervention group play a six-episode interactive game on diversity in STEM and health careers, while the control group views an educational PowerPoint presentation.

1 week

1 session (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in attitudes, self-efficacy, and bystander behavior related to STEM/health careers.

Up to 3 days post-intervention

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Step Up for STEM and Health Careers

Trial Overview The 'Step Up for STEM and Health Careers' game, which aims to promote positive attitudes towards diversity in STEM fields, is being tested against a PowerPoint presentation on bias and harassment as part of this randomized controlled trial.

Participant Groups

Group I: Step Up for STEM Careers Game Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Youth in the intervention group will play a six-episode, interactive game on the importance of diversity in STEM and health careers, STEM/health career self-efficacy, and creating an inclusive learning environment for others. This includes featuring diverse youth who model STEM/health self-efficacy; integrating STEM/health professional characters as "in-game" content experts and role models; and incorporating mini games to reinforce skills and behavior.

Group II: Educational PowerPoint Active Control 1 Intervention

Youth in the comparator group will complete an educational PowerPoint presentation on the importance of diversity in STEM and health careers, STEM/health career self-efficacy, and creating an inclusive learning environment for others. This PowerPoint presentation will contain sections that correspond to each episode of the Step Up for STEM and Health Careers intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

Resilient Games Studio

Industry Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

100+

University of Chicago

Collaborator

Trials

1,086

Recruited

844,000+

Findings from Research

A survey of 665 out of 773 participants from a summer science program for underrepresented minorities revealed that 432 students pursued careers in medicine, health professions, or science, indicating strong retention of interest in these fields.

Among the respondents, 31 students were enrolled in or had graduated from medical school, suggesting that the program effectively encouraged students to pursue advanced education in health-related careers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Education and career paths of LSU's summer science program students from 1985 to 1997. Helm, EG., Parker, JE., Russell, MC.[2019]

The Doctors' Day event successfully increased interest in healthcare careers and oncology among high school students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, with 91 participants from diverse demographics completing the survey.

Feedback from the program was overwhelmingly positive, indicating that students felt more comfortable discussing cancer screening and the importance of healthcare after participating in the hands-on learning activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of an Oncology Focused High School Outreach Event in Increasing Interest in Cancer Care and Healthcare Careers. Das, RK., Buttafuoco, KA., Ibidunni, L., et al.[2023]

The ACTION Program effectively recruits and trains students from underrepresented areas in Appalachian Kentucky, providing them with hands-on experience in cancer research and outreach over a two-year period.

Initial data indicate that high school participants have a higher college-going rate than state and county averages, suggesting the program positively influences educational and career outcomes for its participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program: Preparing Appalachian Kentucky High School and Undergraduate Students for Cancer Careers. Parsons, JRM., Hanley, C., Prichard, C., et al.[2022]

A research project by Mentoring in Medicine (MIM) identified key factors that motivate or deter underrepresented minority students from pursuing health careers, highlighting the importance of including parents in the discussion to understand differing perspectives.

The study led to the development of effective programmatic strategies in community-based, school-based, and Internet-based formats, providing best practices for supporting urban youth in their journey toward health careers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting careers in health care for urban youth: What students, parents and educators can teach us. Holden, L., Rumala, B., Carson, P., et al.[2023]

A study involving 66 out of 81 students in focus groups identified key supportive components of undergraduate pathway programs for underrepresented students aspiring to medical careers, including long-term mentorship, academic preparation, and early clinical exposure.

The findings highlight the importance of community leadership development and health policy advocacy in empowering students, suggesting that these elements are crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of premedical education programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aspiring physicians program: description and characterization of the support processes for an undergraduate pathway program to medicine. Teherani, A., Uwaezuoke, K., Kenny, J., et al.[2023]

The Hexacago Health Academy (HHA) successfully engaged 24 adolescents from underrepresented minority populations in health education and STEM careers through game-based learning, focusing on sexual and reproductive health.

Participants developed critical thinking skills, teamwork, and a broader understanding of health sciences, demonstrating the potential effectiveness of informal learning environments in stimulating interest in STEM fields.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Game-Based Health Education: The Case of Hexacago Health Academy. Macklin, M., Jagoda, P., Jones, IB., et al.[2021]

This study outlines a systematic review protocol aimed at evaluating school-based interventions that use games and gamification to promote physical activity among preschoolers, children, and adolescents.

The review will follow rigorous methods, including the PRISMA-P checklist and the PICOS framework, to ensure comprehensive analysis and comparison of the effectiveness of these interventions in enhancing physical activity outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

School-Based Interventions for Promoting Physical Activity Using Games and Gamification: A Systematic Review Protocol. Saucedo-Araujo, RG., Chillón, P., Pérez-López, IJ., et al.[2020]

A day-long physiology event held in collaboration with tribal middle and high schools in South Dakota and Nebraska successfully increased students' self-perceived knowledge of physiology and enthusiasm for scientific careers, as evaluated by pre- and post-event assessments from 224 participants.

The outreach program demonstrates that activity-based learning can effectively engage underserved populations, particularly Native American students, in STEM fields, highlighting the potential for similar initiatives to foster interest in science careers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A day of immersive physiology experiments increases knowledge and excitement towards physiology and scientific careers in Native American students. Becker, BK., Schiller, AM., Zucker, IH., et al.[2020]

The FIT Game, presented through visual displays in school cafeterias, significantly increased vegetable consumption among 572 elementary school children by 99.9%, from 21.3g to 42.5g, without requiring teacher involvement.

The game did not affect fruit consumption, indicating its targeted approach effectively promoted vegetable intake while maintaining existing fruit consumption levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The FIT Game III: Reducing the Operating Expenses of a Game-Based Approach to Increasing Healthy Eating in Elementary Schools. Joyner, D., Wengreen, HJ., Aguilar, SS., et al.[2019]

A hands-on Jenga activity was developed for K-12 students to illustrate how health behaviors impact disease rates and community resilience, involving 225 students across 15 science classes.

Students learned that positive health behaviors lead to lower disease severity, as demonstrated by the stability of Jenga towers, with the healthier tower (representing a community with better health habits) being more resilient to simulated disasters.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of health behaviors on community well-being and resilience: teaching K-12 students with Jenga! Wehmanen, KW., Cottet-Puinel, FE., Hampton, TC., et al.[2023]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Education and career paths of LSU's summer science program students from 1985 to 1997. [2019]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of an Oncology Focused High School Outreach Event in Increasing Interest in Cancer Care and Healthcare Careers. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program: Preparing Appalachian Kentucky High School and Undergraduate Students for Cancer Careers. [2022]

4. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting careers in health care for urban youth: What students, parents and educators can teach us. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aspiring physicians program: description and characterization of the support processes for an undergraduate pathway program to medicine. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Game-Based Health Education: The Case of Hexacago Health Academy. [2021]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

School-Based Interventions for Promoting Physical Activity Using Games and Gamification: A Systematic Review Protocol. [2020]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A day of immersive physiology experiments increases knowledge and excitement towards physiology and scientific careers in Native American students. [2020]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The FIT Game III: Reducing the Operating Expenses of a Game-Based Approach to Increasing Healthy Eating in Elementary Schools. [2019]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of health behaviors on community well-being and resilience: teaching K-12 students with Jenga! [2023]