NCT02710019

Good Shepherd: Back to Reality Series

Back to Reality Series - Harry's Journey: A Video Game About Under Age

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 55 (actual)
• Sponsor: McMaster University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 16 Years – 19 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this pilot study is to explore whether the Back to Reality series of video games - Harry's Journey, Harry's Journal, and Pathways to care map - increase knowledge of the emotional, social, and psychiatric sequelae of problematic underage marijuana use among homeless and street involved youth. Additional objectives were to explore whether the video games promote awareness of the risk of psychosis associated with regular marijuana use among vulnerable youth.

Detailed description

This project pilots the use of educational video games designed to help youth gain awareness of the risk of mental health issues associated with regular marijuana use. By playing the Back to Reality video games, youths may absorb knowledge about where and how to access community care for symptoms associated with psychosis and problematic cannabis use. The purpose of this study is to pilot test the use of the Back to Reality series at increasing awareness of the social and emotional implications of underage substance use. This study explores the effects of the Back to Reality video games compared to control video games (no content about mental health and addiction). Street involved and homeless youth registered with Good Shepherd services between the ages of 16 and 19 years of age will be recruited. The results will be assessed using quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews. The data will be statistically analyzed for significant differences in knowledge about the risk of psychosis linked to marijuana use among vulnerable youth. The qualitative interview assesses the participants understanding and views of potential emotional, social, and psychiatric sequelae associated with excessive marijuana use during.

Conditions

• Knowledge

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Back to Reality Series Video Games	Back to Reality Series are a psycho-educational video games that provide information about psychosis and marijuana use from the perspective of 'Harry': a character who experiences problems with both issues. The aim is for players to learn how to detect some signs of psychosis and where to seek help for mental health and addictions problems.
OTHER	Control Video Game	The control video game consists of digital puzzles and spelling game about pop culture. The control games does not have any content related to mental health and addictions problems

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-05-05
• Primary completion: 2017-04-18
• Completion: 2017-04-18
• First posted: 2016-03-16
• Last updated: 2020-11-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada