Digitalisierung im Pflege- und Gesundheitswesen (in German)
Avatars in Nursing and Healthcare
An article by Vanessa Buchholz (née Skowronsky), published in the book “Digitalisierung im Pflege- und Gesundheitswesen” Hogrefe Verlag, 1st ed. 2024, Ed. Michael Klösch
In her article “Avatars in Nursing and Healthcare,” Vanessa Buchholz (née Skowronsky) discusses avatars in nursing and healthcare based on serious games.
She describes avatars as personalized, embodied aliases of the players (as opposed to agents, who serve as communicating or instructing counterparts).
The author emphasizes the benefits of avatars in particular: visual representation of current or future health status, encouragement of health-promoting behavior, and support for behavioral changes in prevention.
She also describes the Proteus effect: players adapt to their avatar through it. She refers to studies that demonstrate gradually positive effects, healthier eating habits.
The article appeared in the book “Digitalisierung im Pflege- und Gesundheitswesen. Grundlagen, Erfahrungen und Praxisbeispiele (pp. 95-101). im Hogrefe Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Ed. Michael Klösch.
The book (in German) is available at https://www.hogrefe.com/de/shop/digitalisierung-im-pflege-und-gesundheitswesen-97681.html
