Octo's Heartland: Supporting Children with Congenital Heart Disease through Digital Health Education

Abstract: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) often face challenges that require them to understand complex medical information from an early age in order to support lifelong care and improve health outcomes. However, prior research has rarely included young children in designing and evaluating digital tools to support health education using developmentally appropriate strategies. This study is part of a multi-phase research involving participatory design (PD), user testing, and iterative development. We present the design and refinement of a digital application that introduces basic information about CHD, including heart anatomy and healthy habits, through metaphor-based gameplay. User testing sessions with 30 children informed the redesign of interactive activities aligned with specific health conditions. Findings highlight usability, engagement, and comprehension outcomes and reveal design opportunities for supporting health literacy through serious game (SG) principles. These results inform the next phase, including further testing, refinement, and deployment in home and clinical settings.