Pedi-R-MAPP | the development, testing, validation, and refinement of a digital nutrition awareness tool

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Digital Health Tools
• Health Informatics

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for remote healthcare solutions.
• The Remote Malnutrition Application (R-MAPP) was adapted for pediatric use (Pedi-R-MAPP) via Delphi consensus.
• A structured approach for remote nutrition assessments within technology-enabled care services (TECS) was desired.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a digital version of the Pediatric Remote Malnutrition Application (Pedi-R-MAPP).
• To utilize the IDEAS framework (Integrate, Design, Assess, Share) for tool development.
• To create a structured digital tool for remote nutrition-focused assessments in pediatric care.

Main Methods:

• The IDEAS framework guided a ten-step development process.
• Iterative design involved healthcare professionals (n=22) and user feedback.
• Testing included retrospective (n=80) and large-scale (n=745) assessments by pediatric dietitians.

Main Results:

• Initial dietitian agreement with Pedi-R-MAPP advice was 86% (n=640/745).
• Key areas for improvement included review frequency and discharge recommendations.
• Iterative algorithm refinement led to a 98% agreement rate (p<0.0001).

Conclusions:

• A digital Pedi-R-MAPP tool was successfully developed and validated using the IDEAS framework.
• The tool provides a structured approach for remote pediatric nutrition assessments.
• High agreement with expert assessment indicates the tool's utility in guiding follow-up and care decisions.