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Background: Games are increasingly being used as a means of alleviating pain and anxiety in paediatric patients, in the view that this form of distraction is effective, non‐invasive and non‐pharmacological. Aims: To determine whether a game‐based intervention (via gamification or virtual reality) during the induction of anaesthesia reduces preoperative pain and anxiety in paediatric patients. Methods: A systematic review with meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials was performed in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) guidelines and using RevMan software. The review was based on a search of the EMBASE, CINAHL, Medline, SciELO and Scopus databases, conducted in July 2021. No restriction was placed on the year of publication. Results: 26 studies were found, with a total study population of 2525 children. Regarding pain reduction, no significant differences were reported. For anxiety during anaesthesia induction, however, a mean difference of −10.62 (95% CI −13.85, −7.39) on the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale, in favour of game‐based intervention, was recorded. Conclusions: Game‐based interventions alleviate preoperative anxiety during the induction of anaesthesia in children. This innovative and pleasurable approach can be helpful in the care of paediatric surgical patients. Relevance to clinical practice: In children, preoperative management is a challenging task for healthcare professionals, and game‐based strategies could enhance results, improving patients' emotional health and boosting post‐surgery recovery. Distractive games‐based procedures should be considered for incorporation in the pre‐surgery clinical workflow in order to optimise healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyse the effects of active video games on physical function in independent community‐dwelling older adults. Design: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Data sources: The CINAHL, LILACS, Medline, Proquest and Scopus databases were consulted, with no restriction by year of publication. Review methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The meta‐analysis was performed using RevMan software. Results: The analysis included 22 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1208 participants (all ≥55 years old). In our meta‐analyses, the effects produced by playing the active video games (mean differences) were statistically significant for the variables Gait speed and Timed up‐and‐go. The differences between the control and experimental groups were not significant in the following tests: 6‐minute walk, 30‐second chair stand, balance (measured with the Berg Balance Scale), cadence, grip strength, knee extension strength, 8‐Foot Up‐and‐Go or velocity. Conclusions: Physical exercise from participation in active video games has beneficial effects on two clinical parameters (Gait speed and Timed up‐and‐go) in independent community‐dwelling older adults. However, the effects on other parameters do not differ from those obtained with conventional exercise training. Therefore, the clinical significance of these benefits is limited. Impact: Older adults usually perform little physical activity. In consequence, researchers have increasingly considered alternatives to traditional forms of exercise. One such is that provided by active video games, which can be a source of stimulation, encouraging adherence and motivation in exercise programmes. Our review shows that active video games can improve gait speed and mobility, but in other respects obtain no differences from conventional exercises. Further tailored randomized clinical trials should be undertaken with diverse populations of older adults to evaluate different physical function variables to determine the most appropriate training approach and its optimal design and duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]