Project GAME ON! A Digital Comic Tool to Promote Healthy Behaviors

The proposed study aims to develop and evaluate the usability, acceptability, engagement,and preliminary effectiveness of a customizable, 6‐week interactive digital healthpromotion comic tool for Black/African American and Latino children ages 8 to 12 years.The intervention is designed to promote self‐efficacy related to healthy dietary andphysical activity behaviors through an interactive, culturally relevant, family‐centeredweb‐based platform.A previous version of the tool was developed through an R21 grant from the Agency forHealthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Building on this prior work, the current studywill develop a new six‐chapter intervention comic available in both a standard andenhanced interactivity format, in which children's choices influence the storyline andhealth‐related content.In the first phase of the study (Aim 1), usability testing will be conducted withchildren from the intended audience to evaluate the enhanced interactive comic format andidentify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for refinement related to navigation,comprehension, engagement, and overall user experience.In the second phase of the study (Aim 2), a three‐group pilot randomized controlled trial(30 parent‐child dyads per arm) with a 6‐week intervention period and 3‐month follow‐upwill be conducted to assess engagement and acceptability of the enhanced comic structureand explore the association between engagement and self‐efficacy related to dietary andphysical activity behaviors. Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions:an enhanced interactive comic intervention with caregiver newsletters, a standard comicintervention with caregiver newsletters, or a comparison condition consisting of childnewsletters only. Caregiver newsletters provided in the intervention groups willreinforce healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors at home.This study evaluates an innovative digital health communication approach designed toincrease accessibility and engagement among an underserved and diverse pediatricpopulation. Findings from this study may help inform future digital health interventionsaimed at promoting healthy behaviors and reducing long‐term chronic disease risk amongchildren.