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Saving the Wellbeing Utopia
Saving the Wellbeing Utopia
Designed by Mahdi Abdelwahab (Health Education and Gamification) and Noemi Cassani (Product Designer, UX&UI)
Welcome to the dynamic world of “The Wellbeing Utopia”, where the fate of an entire nation's well-being rests in your hands! In this simulation board game, you are tasked with navigating the complexities of a country grappling with significant health inequities. The landscape of “The Wellbeing Utopia” is characterized by diverse life situations that influence the health and well-being of its citizens.
As you delve into the game, you'll quickly discover that health disparities are not just about medical care. The citizens of “The Wellbeing Utopia” are affected by a myriad of life situations, known as social determinants of health, ranging from the General economy, policy, environment, living and working conditions, social networks, lifestyle, and personal factors. These factors shape the health outcomes of individuals and communities, creating disparities that demand strategic and collaborative solutions.
Your mission, should you accept it, is to work alongside fellow players, embodying various health stakeholders, to explore innovative strategies and policies that can bridge the health gaps across different regions of “The Wellbeing Utopia”. As you navigate the game board, you'll encounter scenarios that mirror real-life challenges related to health disparities, prompting you to collaborate, negotiate, and make decisions that have far-reaching consequences on the well-being of the entire population.
Remember, the ultimate goal is not just to win the game but to collectively craft solutions that promote health equity. Can you rise to the challenge and lead “The Wellbeing Utopia” towards a future where every citizen has an equal opportunity for a healthy life? The journey begins now, and the success of your collaboration will determine the fate of a nation's well-being. Good luck, and may the pursuit of health equity guide your every decision!
The game was played in different classes and conferences with health experts and students. It is your turn to try it out!
The game could be used for fun, but also as an educational game. The following objectives could be addressed using the game (requires well trained facilitator or tutor):
I. Knowledge & Understanding Objectives:
Define Health Equity: Players will be able to define health equity and distinguish it from health equality.
Identify Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): Players will be able to identify multiple social determinants of health (e.g., economic stability, physical environment, education, food, community & social context, healthcare system access/quality) as presented within the game.
Explain the Impact of SDOH: Players will be able to explain how specific social determinants of health influence the health outcomes and well-being of different population groups within the game's simulation.
Recognize Health Disparities: Players will be able to recognize the existence and nature of health disparities across different regions or populations within the "Wellbeing Utopia" scenario.
Understand System Complexity: Players will understand that health and well-being are complex issues influenced by interconnected systems beyond individual behaviour or solely medical care.
II. Skills & Application Objectives:
Apply Systems Thinking: Players will practice applying systems thinking to understand how interventions in one area (e.g., policy change, resource allocation) can have cascading effects on various SDOH and overall population health equity.
Practice Collaborative Problem-Solving: Players will actively engage in collaboration with others, negotiating and working together to develop solutions despite representing potentially differing stakeholder interests.
Develop Strategic Interventions: Players will be able to propose potential strategies, policies, or interventions aimed at addressing specific health disparities identified within the game.
Simulate Stakeholder Roles: Players will gain experience in simulating the perspectives, priorities, and constraints of different health stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, community leaders, healthcare providers, public health officials - depending on the specific roles defined in the game).
III. Analysis & Evaluation Objectives:
Analyze Policy Consequences: Players will be able to analyze the potential positive and negative consequences (intended and unintended) of different decisions and policy choices on health equity across the simulated population.
Evaluate Trade-offs: Players will learn to evaluate the trade-offs involved in resource allocation and policy decisions when aiming to improve overall well-being and reduce health disparities.
Critique Solutions for Equity: Players will be able to critically assess proposed strategies and interventions based on their potential effectiveness in promoting health equity, not just overall health improvement.
Relate Simulation to Reality: Players will be able to draw parallels between the challenges, dynamics, and potential solutions explored in the game and real-world issues of health inequity and social determinants of health.
Do you have questions about the game? Are you interested to use the game? Or do you want to develop a new game?
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