Speaker
Speaker Info
- Name
- Diana Eijgermans
- Organization
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences
- Country
- The Netherlands
- Biography
- Diana Eijgermans is a researcher in the Healthy Lifestyle in a Stimulating Environment research group at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, part of the Centre of Expertise Health Innovation. She is also a lecturer in the Nutrition and Dietetics program, where she frequently bridges research and education. This collaborative approach is evident in projects such as the development of the Influencergame, which involved 64 students in its creation. Diana is engaged in a wide range of research initiatives focused on promoting healthy lifestyles among youth, particularly secondary school students and college/university students. Her work addresses key challenges in encouraging healthier behaviours and fostering critical thinking about health information in an increasingly digital world. Trained as a health scientist, Diana holds a PhD in psychosocial care use by children. During her education, she gained experience in health promotion, health education and behaviour change. Her academic and practical experience drive her passion for creating innovative, research-based solutions. She always develops these in close collaboration with the target group to better support youth health and education.
- www.linkedin.com/in/dianaeijgermans/
- Photo
Presentation Info
- Title
- The Influencergame: Empowering Prevocational Students to Counter Health Misinformation through Serious Gaming
- Summary
- A healthy lifestyle is important for well-being, yet many prevocational (vmbo) students struggle to meet nutritional and physical activity guidelines. Worsening this issue is the health misinformation on social media, which disproportionately impacts these students due to their high exposure to digital platforms and limited digital literacy. This often leads to unhealthy lifestyle choices with lasting consequences. To address this, innovative educational tools are needed to provide accurate information and teach critical evaluation of online content. The Influencergame is a serious game designed to enhance health and digital literacy among prevocational students by learning them how to evaluate health-related information. The game, tailored to students’ interests and perspectives, engages players through an interactive format where they encounter health-related (mis)information from fictional influencers. Players investigate claims using reliable sources, earning likes and popularity—a reward system that mirrors real-world social media dynamics—to motivate critical thinking and informed decision-making. Developed through co-creation and iterative design, the Influencergame’s initial concept stemmed from the Food Boost Challenge, where game-based strategies proved effective in promoting healthy habits. Its prototype features two modules on sustainable food behavior and physical activity, designed for flexible classroom use. Initial testing at schools showed positive feedback, with areas identified for refinement. Plans are underway to expand the game with additional modules addressing multiple lifestyle behaviors. The Influencergame empowers students to make health-conscious decisions in a complex digital world by building critical competencies. It exemplifies an innovative approach to promoting long-term behavior change through engaging, relevant educational gaming.
- Keynote