Digital Technologies for Children and Parents Sharing Self-Management in Childhood Chronic or Long-Term Conditions: A...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Digital Health
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of chronic conditions in children necessitates effective self-management strategies.
• Development of self-management skills, including digital technology use, is vital for treatment adherence and quality of life.
• Parent and child engagement in self-management is essential for successful long-term condition management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify primary research on digital technologies for shared self-management of childhood chronic illnesses.
• To explore the feasibility, acceptability, usability, and impact of digital technologies in pediatric chronic disease self-management.
• To synthesize findings on how digital tools can support parents and children in managing long-term health conditions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of electronic databases was conducted.
• Nineteen primary research papers were included, assessed for quality using the Hawker tool.
• Thematic analysis was performed to identify key themes related to technology use.

Main Results:

• Three themes emerged: feasibility/acceptability, usability, and effects on adherence/self-management.
• Mobile apps and websites are feasible and acceptable for delivering information and supporting self-management.
• Technologies can assist in managing long-term conditions and promote self-management skills in children and parents.

Conclusions:

• Digital technologies show promise in aiding the self-management of chronic childhood illnesses.
• Involving children and parents throughout the technology design process is critical for future development.
• Further research and development should focus on co-design to optimize digital health interventions for pediatric chronic conditions.