EFFECTIVENESS OF GAME-BASED EDUCATION ON NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SELF- EFFICACY AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

Background: Game-based education is an intervention that can be used to improve the nutritional knowledge among children. Game-based education is one of the cost-effective tool that enhance learning opportunities by positively affecting motivation and interest of participants.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of game-based education on nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy among school children.

Methods and Materials: Quantitative research approach, pre-experimental one group pretest and post-test research design were used. 53 school children were selected using convenient sampling technique. The study was conducted at Vels Vidhyashram School, Chennai. Semi structured questionnaire and modified self-efficacy scale was used to assess the nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy.

Results: The  pretest mean score of nutritional knowledge was 10.77 ± 3 and the post-test mean score was 13.66 ± 3.27. The mean difference score was 3.89. The calculated paired t test value t = 4.91 was found to be statistically significant at p<0.05 level. The pretest mean score of self-efficacy was 31.51 ± 4.84 and the post-test mean score of self-efficacy was 32.19 ± 5.57 and the men difference score was 0.68. The calculated paired t test value of t = 0.63 was found to be non-significant at p<0.05 level.

Conclusion: This study concludes that game-based education on nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy among school children was found to be effective in improving knowledge in the post-test.