Perceptions of a video game to promote handwashing habits in foodservice. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clark, Jeffrey; Reynolds, Joel; Crandall, Philip G.
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 107(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Handwashing -- Foodservice -- Persuasive technology -- Technology acceptance model -- Video games -- Habits -- Serious games; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2019.106772
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: This study assessed hospitality students' perceptions of a video game to determine likelihood of acceptance as one of three components of a habit-focused intervention to promote handwashing practices. The game was designed to be played while simultaneously washing hands and involved pressing a foot pedal that caused a character to jump over pipes to progress through a level. Students were shown a video of the game components and how to play it then given a survey based on a variant of the Technology Acceptance Model. Based on a 7-point Likert scale from "1 = Strongly disagree" to "7 = Strongly agree", mean values for preference, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, and perceived usefulness were, respectively, 4.73 ± 1.55, 5.26 ± 1.31, 4.98 ± 1.33, and 4.64 ± 1.56. Students ( n = 100) expressed a slightly positive response towards video game use as evident by the survey results; one third of respondents had an average preference of "Agree" or higher for using the video game in foodservice. This study suggests the video game in its current state may have limited effectiveness in promoting handwashing practices. Future work should involve improving the game mechanics or implementing alternative reward mechanisms for promoting handwashing habits in foodservice.