A sensor-controlled digital game-based approach to improve self-care behaviors among adults diagnosed with hypertension in a Native American community

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among Native Americans (NAs). The Lumbee tribal
community in Robeson county in North Carolina suffer from severe disparities related to cardiovascular
disease incidence and mortality. Hypertension (HTN) strongly elevates the morbidity and mortality risks related
to cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modifications promoted by U.S. HTN guidelines includes modifiable self-
care behaviors such as regular physical activity which is associated with lower blood pressure, reduced
cardiovascular risk, and beneficial cardiac structural remodeling. Therefore, motivating physical activity
behaviors would be key to cardiovascular health promotion efforts among the NA Lumbee tribal community.
One promising approach is the use of sensor-controlled digital games (SCDGs), which offer affordable,
portable, and scalable tools to facilitate engagement in HTN self-care behaviors while being enjoyable and
easy to use. The SCDG intervention integrates HTN participants’ behavioral data from an activity tracker
sensor to activate game progress, rewards, and feedback. The primary goal of this study is to test a culturally
adapted SCDG intervention (N-SCDG) for improving daily physical activity self-care behaviors among Lumbee
tribal adults with HTN and examine approaches for sustaining the impact of the N-SCDG at the community
level. For Aim 1, we will use community based participatory approach to culturally adapt a SCDG intervention
that we have already developed for mobile smartphones to motivate sustained physical activity self-care
behaviors among NA adults with HTN. For Aim 2, using a randomized controlled clinical trial, we will compare
the N-SCDG intervention versus a sensor-only control for the primary outcome of engagement in the HTN self-
care behavior of physical activity and the secondary outcomes of HTN self-care knowledge, self-care
behaviors, self-efficacy, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cardiac hospitalization, and quality of life at
baseline and at 3 and 6 months. For our sample, we will recruit adults aged 18 years or older from tribal
affiliated cardiac clinics in Robeson county. We will randomize 220 participants to either the N-SCDG
intervention group, in which participants will receive sensors that track physical activity and will play the N-
SCDG on a mobile smartphone, or a control group that will receive sensors, an app that tracks physical
activity, and standardized written HTN educational materials. For Aim 3, we will evaluate the sustainability of
N-SCDG intervention in the Lumbee tribal community through qualitative interviews with study participants and
community leaders and train Lumbee community members to sustain and disseminate the N-SCDG
intervention for building community capacity for HTN management. This project will generate insight and
guidance for scalable and easy-to-use digital gaming solutions to motivate HTN self-care behaviors and
improve health outcomes among NA individuals with HTN.