Abstract:
Every year, an estimated 15 million infants are born preterm (more than 1 in 10) worldwide, and this number is rising. Compared to term infants, preterm have a higher risk of mortality, morbidity, and handicap and their parents are at higher risk of experiencing emotional distress, anxiety and depression that can result in altered parenting patterns upon discharge home. Support provided in the NICU and transition to home has demonstrated positive and clinically meaningful effects in in both parental and neonatal outcomes. Recommendation and guidelines for discharge have been published but are not always implemented.
Innovative, tailored, and cost-efficient way to deliver intervention to parents are via smartphone applications (apps). Exploration and assessment (quality, evidence-based content, and data protection levels) of existing accessible apps showed that none was adapted or transferable to the Swiss or European context. Indeed, most accessible apps lacked in quality and were designed for US context with many cultural and practical content that was not adapted to our target population.
Thus, we are designing a new app that will be accessible and culturally adapted to Swiss parents. It follows a user centered and iterative approach, involving parents and healthcare professionals from the early stage of design to the clinical testing. Our intervention is designed with a theoretical underpinning using the Bandura’s Self-Efficacy theory within a Family-Centred Care (FCC) approach adapted to the NICU environment.
Here we would present the results of the first study aimed at defining the digital intervention. It included designing a paper prototype of the app according to evidence-based content and guidelines and collection of the needs and feedback from 18 parents and 18 healthcare professionals to establish a list of app functional requirements. Five main features of the app will be shared agenda, tracking, memories, messaging with HPs, and Tailored self-help and are presented in the figure below. Next steps are app acceptability and clinical testing in a randomized clinical trial in which the impact on app use on parental and neonatal outcomes will be measured.
Audience Take Away
- The process to evaluate existing mHealth apps in their fields with appropriate tools and techniques
- How to build an mHealth app with a user experience approach (app requirements)
- Iterative approach to going from low-fidelity prototype to a high-fidelity prototype and clinical mHealth app
- Designing of digital solutions is becoming more and more prevalent, and needs have been accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing how to evaluate existing apps and how to develop a new one will be helpful for researchers, clinicians and teachers in the field
