Vitalia: Development and Preliminary Validation of a Scalable Gamified Educational Model for Pediatric Oncology Support

Abstract

This study proposes and analyzes Vitalia, a cooperative board game designed as an educational tool to sup-port emotional accompaniment and enhance understanding of treatment processes in pediatric oncology contexts. The project was developed under a Design-Based Research approach, integrating phases of conceptual design, physical prototyping, and exploratory validation through an evolutionary hybrid model. Preliminary validation was conducted in a non-clinical academic setting using a pretest–posttest design applied across four dimensions: treatment comprehension, motivation, emotional state, and perceived family support. Descriptive results revealed consistent improvements across all evaluated dimensions, particularly in conceptual clarity and perception of emotional accompaniment. The proposed model integrates principles of gamification, symbolic narrative, and cooperative dynamics, offering an accessible and culturally adaptable alternative to exclusively digital solutions. Furthermore, the study outlines a projection toward interactive digital development, in which analog validation precedes technological prototyping. Although the findings should be interpreted as preliminary evidence due to the exploratory nature of the study, the proposed hybrid model demonstrates potential as a complementary educational tool within Latin American contexts.