蓝莓视频

When听University of听蓝莓视频 co-op student听础苍迟丑辞苍测听滨濒别谤蝉颈肠丑 faced听the听challenge听of easing vaccine-related anxiety in children,听he听used his love for gaming to make a difference.

The fourth-year听Computing and Financial Management听student in the听Faculty of Mathematics,听is听a听driving force behind the interactive web game听.听Developed by听听and the University of Toronto,听颁础搁顿鈩� (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) is an evidence-based framework that teaches children how to prepare for听vaccination.听

鈥淭he game has two听big goals. One is to teach听children听(aged 6 to 12), through playing the game, how to help cope with getting a needle,鈥� says听Ilersich. 鈥淭he other听is to be听a听distraction or calming tool for when they're feeling anxious.鈥澨�

Most vaccinations are听delivered听through a听needle, which can cause听pain-related symptoms such as fear and fainting. By playing听颁础搁顿鈩�, which is accessible on most mobile devices, children can prepare for vaccination and experience less stress-related reactions.

鈥淭he game is a virtual deck of cards with different tips. As you progress through, there is cute little characters to help you along,鈥� adds听Ilersich. 鈥淲e also wove in mini games to be fun,听distracting and calming. This keeps听children听motivated to continue听with听all the educational听elements.鈥澨�

Ilersich听plays instrumental role听

鈥淎nthony has been very invested from the听beginning,鈥� says听Dr. Anna Taddio, professor at the听Leslie Dan听Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto and senior associate scientist at听the Hospital for听Sick听Children.听鈥淗e was brought on in 2016 as a student representative to help inform the project. When I told him we needed some way to put this together for people to gravitate to it, he came up with acronym, 颁础搁顿鈩�. He understands this program more than anyone else.鈥�

Ilersich听started with Immunize Canada in September 2020 as program development manager. Following his听four-month听co-op term he worked part-time on the project until its launch in December 2021.

As听program development manager,听he听directed the work of three developers and an artist who worked on the game鈥檚 design.听Managing others was a learning curve for Ilersich, who spent his nights working on the technical aspects of the game.

鈥淚t is an intense project and I鈥檓 excited that it鈥檚 out in the world and ready to help people,鈥� he adds.听

Combining educational theoretical framework with gaming

For Immunize Canada this is the first evidence-based tool that uses a theoretical framework in education and gaming.听鈥淲hat is great about this game is that it鈥檚 not just about vaccination, it鈥檚 about needles,鈥� says听Lucie Marisa Bucci, senior manager at Immunize Canada.

鈥�Children can use this when getting a blood test or any painful event or situation. Those letter categories (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) are for relieving anxiety and fear which has broader uses. This is important in our approach to immunize for the prevention of diseases. This game has proof it helps, says Bucci.

According to Bucci,听Ilersich听brought his technical agility and passion for gaming into this project.听鈥淲hat drew us to Anthony听is听his critical thinking skills, which are听off the charts. He was able to capture the essence of what the tool听is for听and converted听it听into something engaging. That is not easy to do.鈥澨齀lersich听was a听standout听for听Bucci听because听he is听purpose driven. He听makes informed听decisions听at a very high level听while navigating through theoretical frameworks.听

In Winter 2022,听Ilersich听returns to听gaming in his next co-op term as听a听game programmer at Vancouver-based, Eden Industries.听