The first digital game to promote public awareness about pancreatic cancer is being launched today, Monday 14th November in a joint event by co-creators, local pancreatic cancer charity NIPANC, researchers from Queen’s University Belfast and Focus Games Ltd. A further Serious Game commission to support medics diagnose the disease is also being announced.
Those attending the ‘Pancreatic Cancer is More Than a Game’ event in QUB’s Great Hall, including former NI Minister for Health, Robin Swann will try out the new, free-to-use digital game aimed at informing as many people as possible about the disease in a more accessible way.
The Serious Game; Pancreatic Cancer Awareness is now online and available to play. It is part of NIPANC’s #TimeMatters campaign which during November, World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, is encouraging people to take life-saving action by learning about the symptoms of the disease and where necessary seeking early diagnosis, referral and treatment.
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Ellie Irvine now (16) who lost her dad Noel (54) to pancreatic cancer when she was just five years old was among the first to give the game, which can be played on any smartphone, tablet or computer, the thumbs up.
She said: “Players get asked random questions from a question bank about pancreatic cancer. If you get the question correct, you progress in the game. Players get about 90 seconds to play but can have multiple attempts at answering the questions. After every question, players get the correct answer and find out the reasoning behind it.
NIPANC provided 100% of the funding required by QUB to develop the game which also signposts players to other important services and resources. The project, which began in June 2022 is led by Dr Gary Mitchell, a registered nurse and senior lecturer from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s University Belfast.
He said: “As far as we know this is the first-time gaming technology has been used with an educational purpose for pancreatic cancer. Despite their novelty, games have shown promising results in raising awareness and changing perceptions in other areas such as flu or dementia."
“The end result involved a number of workshops in which we talked to people who live or have lived with the disease. We consulted with those who have been affected by pancreatic cancer including family members and carers, advocates, medical professionals and members of the public to understand what the key messages should be for the game and how it should look. Assisted by student nurses, we co-created the Serious Game, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness."
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Ivan McMinn MBE, Chairperson of NIPANC is a pancreatic cancer survivor and among only 1% of people to survive the disease past ten years. Today’s event marks his eleventh anniversary with his 1 pm speaking slot marking the exact time in 2011 when he received his diagnosis.
Ivan said: “The launch of the Serious Game today is another tool in our armoury against this deadly disease. Approximately 260 people are diagnosed with the condition in NI and the numbers are on the increase. Survival rates have not improved much in the last 40 years and the reality is people may not experience any symptoms in the early stages and the disease is often at an advanced stage when diagnosed."
“With late diagnosis and the small number of treatment options available this means survival rates are low which is why Pancreatic Cancer is often referred to as the silent killer because early signs and symptoms can be vague and difficult to recognise even for GPs."
“That’s why today we are also announcing funding for further digital innovation to support medical professionals diagnose pancreatic cancer. Early detection will help identify patients who are candidates for surgical resection which still represents the best chance of a cure.”
Melvin Bell, Focus Games Ltd said: “Serious Games are an effective way to raise awareness and stimulate discussions about difficult or emotive subjects.”
The Serious Game can be found online at www.WhatisPancreaticCancer.co.uk
Source: Written from a press release
