NCT07501572

Robot-Assisted Immersive Escape Room Game for Tobacco Harm Prevention Among Elementary School Students

Effectiveness of a Robot-Assisted Immersive Escape Room Game for Tobacco Harm Prevention Among Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Elementary School Students

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Taiwan Normal University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 10 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a robot-assisted immersive escape room intervention for tobacco harm prevention among upper-grade elementary school students. A total of 200 fifth- and sixth-grade students from elementary schools in New Taipei City, Taiwan, will participate in this quasi-experimental, parallel-group design. Participants will be allocated non-randomly to either the experimental group, which receives the robot-assisted immersive escape room intervention, or the active comparator group, which receives standard classroom-based tobacco harm prevention education. In the experimental arm, an educational robot named "Anti-Smoking Kebbi" serves as a non-player character (NPC) to facilitate human-robot interaction through puzzle-solving and scenario-based learning focused on e-cigarette and tobacco hazards. Both groups will be assessed using validated questionnaires at three time points: baseline (pre-intervention), immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Primary and secondary outcome measures will include changes in tobacco harm knowledge, health beliefs, smoking refusal self-efficacy, extended expectation confirmation, learning engagement, behavioral intention, and advocacy intention.

Detailed description

This study investigates the effectiveness of a robot-assisted immersive escape room game for tobacco harm prevention among elementary school students. The intervention integrates human-robot interaction and gamified learning to enhance students' understanding of e-cigarette and tobacco-related health risks. A quasi-experimental parallel-group design will be used. Approximately 200 fifth- and sixth-grade students from elementary schools in New Taipei City, Taiwan will participate. Schools will be assigned to either the experimental group or the control group based on matched characteristics such as school size and location. Students in the experimental group will participate in a 60-minute robot-assisted immersive escape room activity. The educational robot "Anti-Smoking Kebbi" acts as a non-player character (NPC) guiding students through puzzle-solving tasks related to tobacco harm prevention. The control group will receive a standard classroom-based tobacco harm prevention lesson delivered by trained teachers. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires administered at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at one-month follow-up. Outcomes include tobacco harm knowledge, health beliefs, smoking refusal self-efficacy, , extended expectation confirmation, learning engagement, behavioral Intention, and advocacy Intention will be assessed using structured questionnaires at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at one-month follow-up.

Conditions

• Tobacco Use

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Robot-assisted Immersive Escape Room Game	Students participate in a 60-minute robot-assisted immersive escape room designed to prevent e-cigarette use. The session is facilitated by the educational robot "Anti-Smoking Kebbi," which acts as a non-player character (NPC) guiding students through interactive puzzles and scenario-based challenges. The activity integrates human-robot interaction and gamified learning strategies to teach the health risks of e-cigarette use and tobacco prevention concepts. The intervention is delivered once in a classroom setting.
BEHAVIORAL	Traditional Tobacco Harm Prevention Education	Students receive a 60-minute standard classroom-based health education session on tobacco and e-cigarette harms delivered by trained teachers. The session uses lectures, presentation slides, and guided discussion to introduce the health risks of tobacco and e-cigarette use and strategies for prevention. The intervention is delivered once in a classroom setting.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-04-01
• Primary completion: 2026-05-01
• Completion: 2026-06-01
• First posted: 2026-03-30
• Last updated: 2026-03-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan