Games as a Non-pharmacology Therapy for Chronic Pain – A Mixed Method Pilot Study in Older People
摘要
This pilot study investigates the use of games as a non-pharmacological therapy for chronic pain in older adults. A group of institutionalized older adults experiencing persistent pain, without cognitive impairment, was recruited. Sociodemographic data were collected, and pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS) before and after a 20-min game-based intervention. Post-intervention, participants were interviewed about their personal experiences with the game. The “Tree Game,” a giant floorboard game (Agilidades.pt), was selected for its unique properties conducive to this study (e.g., multi-stimuli approach). Significant differences in VAS scores before and after the Tree Game intervention were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Qualitative analysis of participants’ feedback was also conducted. Results indicated that seventeen participants reported a reduction in pain following the game-based intervention (Group 1). The VAS scores demonstrated significant improvement in pain perception post-intervention (median = 4.50 vs. 3.00; P = 0.005). Six themes emerged from the qualitative analysis, describing the “Tree Game” as a playful and engaging experience that positively influenced pain perception.