Adolescents’ and Parents’ Perspectives on Using the MedSMARxT Families Intervention in Emergency Departments for Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods Study
Abstract BackgroundThe opioid crisis has significantly impacted adolescents and their families. This is attributed in part to increased opioid prescriptions in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) due to acute pain conditions and injuries. Although EDs frequently prescribe op...
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JMIR Publications
2025-06-01
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| Series: | JMIR Serious Games |
| Online Access: | https://games.jmir.org/2025/1/e68814 |
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| author | Olufunmilola Abraham Sara Nadi Irene Hurst |
| author_facet | Olufunmilola Abraham Sara Nadi Irene Hurst |
| author_sort | Olufunmilola Abraham |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
BackgroundThe opioid crisis has significantly impacted adolescents and their families. This is attributed in part to increased opioid prescriptions in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) due to acute pain conditions and injuries. Although EDs frequently prescribe opioids, no effective preventative interventions have been implemented to educate adolescents and their families on safe opioid use. This study evaluates the MedSMA℞T Families intervention, which consists of an engaging serious game, Adventures in PharmaCity, and a personalized Family Medication Safety Plan (FMSP) with the aim of reducing opioid misuse and promoting opioid medication safety. The MedSMA℞T Families intervention was developed to educate adolescents and adults prescribed opioids on safe practices such as opioid storage and disposal.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore and characterize adolescents’ and parents’ experiences and perspectives on implementing the MedSMA℞T Families intervention in the ED to improve opioid education and safety among adolescents.
MethodsA total of 93 participants, including 16 children and 77 parents, were recruited from the pediatric ED at a tertiary academic hospital to play the MedSMA℞T game in the ED. A total of 16 participants, including 8 children and 8 parents, were followed up with interviews to gather qualitative feedback. Participants engaged with the MedSMA℞T game—Adventures in PharmaCity—and the FMSP. Data were collected through gameplay observation and 75-minute semistructured interviews via Zoom. Quantitative in-game data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis with NVivo (version 14; Lumivero).
ResultsParents spent an average of 22.16 (SD 4.97) minutes playing the game, while children spent an average of 21.99 (SD 8.06) minutes. Families appreciated the game’s design and noted usability challenges and suggested enhancements for clearer gameplay instructions. Participants reported increased knowledge of opioid safety, highlighted the importance of communication with health care providers, and a desire for a mobile app to assist with medication management. The FMSP was perceived as valuable for promoting awareness of safe practices and connected well to the knowledge gained from the game.
ConclusionsThe MedSMA℞T Families intervention was well received as a beneficial educational tool to educate adolescents and their families on safe opioid use. Additionally, it highlights a clear need for more accessible digital tools to increase opioid education. This feedback indicates a strong interest in improving educational resources to ensure safe opioid management within families. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ce8daad8a6824b31b2603aaaecd3ae36 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2291-9279 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Serious Games |
| spelling | doaj-art-ce8daad8a6824b31b2603aaaecd3ae362025-08-20T03:31:27ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Serious Games2291-92792025-06-0113e68814e6881410.2196/68814Adolescents’ and Parents’ Perspectives on Using the MedSMARxT Families Intervention in Emergency Departments for Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods StudyOlufunmilola Abrahamhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5621-5567Sara Nadihttp://orcid.org/0009-0007-3036-4322Irene Hursthttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4220-2626 Abstract BackgroundThe opioid crisis has significantly impacted adolescents and their families. This is attributed in part to increased opioid prescriptions in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) due to acute pain conditions and injuries. Although EDs frequently prescribe opioids, no effective preventative interventions have been implemented to educate adolescents and their families on safe opioid use. This study evaluates the MedSMA℞T Families intervention, which consists of an engaging serious game, Adventures in PharmaCity, and a personalized Family Medication Safety Plan (FMSP) with the aim of reducing opioid misuse and promoting opioid medication safety. The MedSMA℞T Families intervention was developed to educate adolescents and adults prescribed opioids on safe practices such as opioid storage and disposal. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore and characterize adolescents’ and parents’ experiences and perspectives on implementing the MedSMA℞T Families intervention in the ED to improve opioid education and safety among adolescents. MethodsA total of 93 participants, including 16 children and 77 parents, were recruited from the pediatric ED at a tertiary academic hospital to play the MedSMA℞T game in the ED. A total of 16 participants, including 8 children and 8 parents, were followed up with interviews to gather qualitative feedback. Participants engaged with the MedSMA℞T game—Adventures in PharmaCity—and the FMSP. Data were collected through gameplay observation and 75-minute semistructured interviews via Zoom. Quantitative in-game data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis with NVivo (version 14; Lumivero). ResultsParents spent an average of 22.16 (SD 4.97) minutes playing the game, while children spent an average of 21.99 (SD 8.06) minutes. Families appreciated the game’s design and noted usability challenges and suggested enhancements for clearer gameplay instructions. Participants reported increased knowledge of opioid safety, highlighted the importance of communication with health care providers, and a desire for a mobile app to assist with medication management. The FMSP was perceived as valuable for promoting awareness of safe practices and connected well to the knowledge gained from the game. ConclusionsThe MedSMA℞T Families intervention was well received as a beneficial educational tool to educate adolescents and their families on safe opioid use. Additionally, it highlights a clear need for more accessible digital tools to increase opioid education. This feedback indicates a strong interest in improving educational resources to ensure safe opioid management within families.https://games.jmir.org/2025/1/e68814 |
| spellingShingle | Olufunmilola Abraham Sara Nadi Irene Hurst Adolescents’ and Parents’ Perspectives on Using the MedSMARxT Families Intervention in Emergency Departments for Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods Study JMIR Serious Games |
| title | Adolescents’ and Parents’ Perspectives on Using the MedSMARxT Families Intervention in Emergency Departments for Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_full | Adolescents’ and Parents’ Perspectives on Using the MedSMARxT Families Intervention in Emergency Departments for Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_fullStr | Adolescents’ and Parents’ Perspectives on Using the MedSMARxT Families Intervention in Emergency Departments for Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adolescents’ and Parents’ Perspectives on Using the MedSMARxT Families Intervention in Emergency Departments for Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_short | Adolescents’ and Parents’ Perspectives on Using the MedSMARxT Families Intervention in Emergency Departments for Opioid Medication Safety Education: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_sort | adolescents and parents perspectives on using the medsmarxt families intervention in emergency departments for opioid medication safety education mixed methods study |
| url | https://games.jmir.org/2025/1/e68814 |
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