Players will then receive a free breath test device to track their progress each day. In the end, all the players who dropped out will win their bet back plus the profit when they split the bet with the other winners. Winners often double their money when they quit smoking.
Developed by digital health company WayBetter, QuitBet is an example of the “serious gaming” movement in which games are used to improve health.
Serious games can take a lot of work like quitting smoking and adding social elements like competition, social support and in this case an engine of money online, to make the adoption of games Healthy habits become fun and engaging.
QuitBet builds on other successful WayBetter products such as DietBet (a weight loss game) and StepBet (a walking game).
Jamie Rosen, Founder and CEO of WayBetter, is the study’s Principal Investigator. Sandra Japuntich Ph.D., a Hennepin Healthcare Investigator, is providing scientific support. The study was funded by $1.15 million from the National Institutes of Health.
“We’ve known for years that paying people to change their behaviour, known as preventive management, works to help people stop smoking. However, implementing prevention management is one thing. sustainable way is very difficult. QuitBet solves this problem by letting players self-fund their own incentives,” said Dr. Japuntich.
In this QuitBet study, players prove they don’t smoke by taking a carbon monoxide breath test every day use a device connected to their smartphone, which is provided free of charge to participants.
The study will examine whether providing in-game social support through social feeds improves abstinence rates or user satisfaction.
“Giving up smoking is hard, but who says it has to be lonely and frustrating?” Rosen said. “Why not indulge in some fun, friendly competition and the thrill of winning? It’s a powerful new way to think about problems. We’ve found that it really helps people. who made it through those tough first weeks.”
Source: Eurekalert
