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A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients

Taelyr Weekly1, Nicole Walker2, Jill Beck3

  • 1Department of Cardiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, South 42nd Street and Emile Street, Omaha, NE 68198, USA. tjmiller@unmc.edu.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Mobile apps offer relaxation for children with chronic conditions. This study reviewed app quality, finding most focused on relaxation, soothing images, and breathing techniques to improve mood and sleep.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Palliative Care
  • Digital Health Interventions
  • Mobile Health (mHealth)

Background:

  • Mobile applications are increasingly used by patients and families for relaxation and distraction, especially for children with complex chronic medical conditions.
  • Limited data exists on the quality, engagement, functionality, aesthetics, or applicability of these apps for pediatric palliative care patients.
  • Assessing the utility of mobile apps is crucial for integrating them effectively into patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and assess the quality of mobile applications designed for relaxation and mindfulness in pediatric palliative care.
  • To evaluate app engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and applicability for pediatric and adolescent patients.
  • To provide a resource summary for pediatric palliative care providers regarding mobile app functionality.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic search of smartphone application platforms was conducted for relevant calming, relaxation, and mindfulness apps.
  • Apps were reviewed using a systematic data extraction tool and assessed with validated Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) scores by two blinded reviewers.
  • Apps were categorized by patient age group (infant, child, adolescent) and caregiver type, with consensus reached through reviewer discussion.

Main Results:

  • Sixteen out of 22 identified apps were included in the final analysis, operating on iOS or Android platforms.
  • The majority of apps (12/16) featured a relaxation approach, with many incorporating soothing images (8/16) and breathing techniques (8/16).
  • The primary symptoms targeted by these apps were mood and sleep patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Mobile applications offer potential as valuable tools for relaxation and distraction in pediatric palliative care.
  • The reviewed apps primarily focus on relaxation techniques, targeting mood and sleep, which are relevant for pediatric palliative care patients.
  • A curated resource summary of mobile apps can enhance pediatric palliative care providers' knowledge and facilitate their integration into patient care.

Keywords:
childrenmeditationmobile applicationsmultimediapalliativerelaxationstresstechnology

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