Game-based education for children with type 1 diabetes

The Effect of Education Provided to Children With Type 1 Diabetes Using Gamification Methods on Health Literacy and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Not applicable Interventional KTO Karatay University · NCT07409701

We will test if a game-based education program helps children aged 8–12 with type 1 diabetes improve their health knowledge and quality of life.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment52 (estimated)
Ages8 Years to 12 Years
SexAll
SponsorKTO Karatay University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ankara, Yenimahalle)
Trial IDNCT07409701 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized, parallel-group (1:1) controlled trial enrolling 52 children with type 1 diabetes at Ankara Etlik City Hospital between January and April 2026. Eligible participants are aged 8–12, diagnosed with T1DM for at least one year, able to read and write, and without major sensory or cognitive impairments. The intervention group will receive gamified diabetes education while the control group receives usual care, with data collected by individual interviews using a demographic form, a diabetes-specific health literacy scale, and a pediatric diabetes quality-of-life scale. Outcomes will be compared using a pre-test/post-test design to see if gamification changes health literacy and quality-of-life scores.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Children aged 8–12 with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes for at least one year who can read and write and do not have sensory or cognitive impairments are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Children with speech, hearing, or visual impairments, other chronic comorbidities, cognitive impairment, or those outside the 8–12 age range or newly diagnosed may be unlikely to benefit from this specific intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the gamified education could improve diabetes-related health literacy and quality of life in children, potentially supporting better self-care and fewer acute problems.

How similar studies have performed: Prior small studies of gamified education in pediatric chronic conditions, including some work in diabetes, have shown improved engagement and short-term knowledge gains, but durable quality-of-life or clinical benefits remain limited and inconsistently demonstrated.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
* Aged between 8 and 12 years
* Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least 1 year and having received standard diabetes education
* Able to read and write

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of speech, hearing, or visual impairments
* Presence of any other comorbid chronic disease
* Presence of cognitive impairment

Where this trial is running

Ankara, Yenimahalle

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Type 1 Diabetes MellitusGamificationHealth literacyQuality of life
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.