Video games and participation in health - How online games can foster population???s participation in public health policies

This paper discusses the use of video games for public health communication, as a means of presenting health content in attractive formats, fostering an active stance in seeking such content and enhancing population´s social participation. In order to do that, we analyze the concepts of serious games, procedural rhetoric and games as participatory media culture. A subsequent empirical step consisted of interviews with 22 video game players, from which we draw conclusions about games´ potential to communicate health themes, illustrate collective health issues and enhance population´s participation in public health policies.