Feasibility and Engagement With a Gamified Health Literacy Intervention for Alcohol Use Prevention: A Pilot Study Among Ethnic Minority Adolescents
摘要
Adolescent alcohol use is a global concern, especially for ethnic minority youth in Thailand (e.g., Akha, Hmong) facing linguistic barriers and limited healthcare access in remote areas. Gamified digital interventions are promising, yet their feasibility in these specific contexts remains underexplored. To assess the feasibility and engagement with a culturally adapted gamified intervention aimed at preventing alcohol initiation and the escalation of risky drinking behaviors. Preliminary effects on alcohol consumption and health literacy were also explored. A two-arm, Cluster Randomized Pilot Trial (N = 54) allocated Thai students to intervention or control groups. Feasibility (recruitment, technical, fidelity) and engagement (retention, attendance) were assessed. The tool was designed to support school nurses in delivering health education, addressing identified linguistic gaps. High feasibility and 100% retention were achieved within facilitated sessions. Adjusted analyses showed no significant differences in drinking behavior (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI [0.19–9.21], p > .05) or health literacy (p = .379). Despite limited power for efficacy, the intervention is highly feasible and engaging. It provides a foundation for future trials aimed at preventing risky drinking escalation among ethnic minority adolescents. A fully powered randomized controlled trial with stratified randomization is required to definitively assess effectiveness.