Customization of the TRU-PBMT App (Technology Recordings to better Understand Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant)

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Health Informatics
• Mobile Health Technology

Background:

• Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer potential for monitoring patient-generated health data.
• Existing health apps lack features specific to pediatric blood and marrow transplant (PBMT) care needs.
• Effective symptom management is crucial for improving outcomes in PBMT patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of the Technology Recording to better Understand Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant (TRU-PBMT) mobile application.
• To evaluate the potential of patient-generated health data for monitoring health status and enhancing symptom management in PBMT care.
• To address the unmet need for a specialized mHealth tool for pediatric PBMT patients.

Main Methods:

• A one-time survey was administered to pediatric blood and marrow transplant (PBMT) clinicians, caregivers, and outpatients.
• Feedback and suggestions were collected to inform the design of the TRU-PBMT mobile application.
• User input guided the development of a specialized mHealth tool tailored to the PBMT population.

Main Results:

• Clinicians (n=23), caregivers (n=5), and outpatients (n=4) found the TRU-PBMT app acceptable and usable for patients aged 8-18.
• Key suggestions included enhancing child-friendly language and graphics.
• Respondents recommended incorporating specific PBMT-related symptoms like fatigue, mucositis, and bleeding, along with a visual stool chart.

Conclusions:

• Feedback from patients, caregivers, and clinicians was integral to the creation of the TRU-PBMT app.
• A pediatric-friendly, PBMT-symptom-specific mobile application was designed.
• Future studies will evaluate the TRU-PBMT app's efficacy in clinical practice.