Strong Together serious game for Quality of Life (QOL)

More than 60% of those diagnosed with arthritis, diabetes, COPD and/or asthma still continue not getting their treatment as prescribed by a physician. Those chronically ill with arthritis in the US still will face their symptoms and medication requirements without medical support.

Self-management interventions with both behavioral and pharmacotherapeutic elements are effective and appear to be equally effective for common chronic medical conditions. The self-management treatments for diabetes, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can apply across multiple disease domains.

The need for self-management is significant in the care of [osteoarthritis](https://www.withpower.com/clinical-trials/osteoarthritis). Recent findings, we have not found evidence that interventions that include a clinical or biomedical component and/or self-management support have better outcomes in terms of pain or function than standard care. Nevertheless, our results add to the growing literature highlighting the need for further research into the use of self-management as a treatment or intervention for OA.

Self-management of chronic disease (such as schizophrenia) should include lifestyle-related lifestyle modifications. The most significant factors in self-management are self-efficacy and motivation. Further study of self-management skills may lead to improved outcomes of the disease, especially if this knowledge is embedded in an integrated health care model.

The term self-management is likely to be misleading. To identify the determinants of self-management, this paper suggests five types of self-managers. There are differences between primary and secondary care practitioners. A 'whole' approach, based on patient needs, is required.

Most people with chronic conditions are able to reduce their symptoms, however they have a strong emotional response to what they are seeing. There is an inverse relationship between the intensity of the emotional intensity reaction and the ability to do self-management. Results from a recent paper has implications for the design of the self-management skills and strategies that will be most effective to increase self-management skills in chronic disease.

Those with good self-management had a significantly better experience with SSC than those with poor self-management. Improvement in health knowledge through the game is a promising area for future development.

Knowledge of family history was a significant predictor of self-management behaviors. Families are encouraged to be familiar with both the disease process and ways of self-management.

Serious games, in particular the MMOG were extremely effective at improving [health care knowledge and self-esteem]]. Findings from a recent study demonstrates the positive impact of serious games in a real life setting.

Data from a recent study suggests that players who are more committed to the game have more positive effects than players who are more neutral about the game. As of now, it seems that the game has no detrimental effects to the cardiovascular benefits. It would be nice to replicate these results with more patients, and with longer study periods, because the findings are so preliminary and might not come out in a favourable manner. As a game seems as a complementary therapy that should be included to all treatments.

This new approach is a promising research tool to enhance the effectiveness of serious games by promoting self-management as well as decreasing fatigue and decreasing stress levels. Also, this approach encourages players to take advantage of different game elements as opposed to the monolithic method with which video games are usually designed.