The Authors’ Own Words: Pilot Study of a Videogame Prototype for Cigarette and Marijuana Prevention in Adolescents

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

Pilot Study of a Videogame Prototype for Cigarette and Marijuana Prevention in Adolescents

Lindsay R. Duncan, PhD; Kimberly D. Hieftje, PhD; Tyra M. Pendergrass, MEM; Benjamin G. Sawyer; & Lynn E. Fiellin, MD

Substance Abuse Vol. 39, Iss. 3, 2018

“This study showed improvements in knowledge about the risks of smoking cigarettes and marijuana for adolescents who played the videogame prototype. There was also an encouraging trend in the expected direction for changes in self-efficacy and perceived norms related to smoking cigarettes and marijuana. Feedback from the players about their gameplay experience was very positive. Despite their preliminary nature, our findings suggest that a videogame based on key cognitive and motivational variables may be an effective and engaging means to deliver a cigarette and marijuana prevention intervention. Our data also suggest important ways in which the game could be enhanced for even more meaningful effects.”