Case Study: Essen University Hospital improves pediatric patient engagement with Centigrade GmbH’s gamified medical app

Essen University Hospital improves pediatric patient engagement with Centigrade GmbH's gamified medical app

The Center for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Essen University Hospital faced a challenge in its pediatric care: young patients were often inadequately involved in their own treatment process. Complex medical information communicated primarily to parents led to increased fear, reduced motivation, and lower therapy adherence among the children. To address this, Essen University Hospital partnered with vendor Centigrade GmbH to develop a gamification concept and the screen design for a child-friendly patient portal app.

Centigrade developed the LOUISA app, which features a disabled "buddy" character that acts as the child's ally. Through a gamified journey, children help their buddy regain lost magical abilities by completing daily medical diary entries, which unlocks points and progresses the story. This approach playfully motivates young patients to engage with their treatment, integrating features like medication schedules and explanatory videos. The solution successfully increased children's autonomy and compliance while reducing their fears and uncertainties.

Essen University Hospital