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Friends, Family, and Food: Development of a Food Allergy Intervention, F3-App, for Children
Barbara N Jandasek1,2,3, Sheryl J Kopel1,2,3, Cynthia A Esteban1,3
1Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital.
Insights
A new interactive app, the Friends, Family and Food Application (F3-App), was developed to help school-aged children manage food allergies (FA). The app was well-received, proving useful for families and encouraging discussions about allergy management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy Management
- Digital Health Interventions
- Software Development for Chronic Conditions
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of pediatric IgE-mediated food allergy (FA).
- Lack of age-appropriate educational tools for youth with FA.
- Need for improved support systems for managing pediatric chronic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the methods for designing and refining an interactive educational software program for school-aged children with FA.
- To develop and evaluate the Friends, Family and Food Application (F3-App).
Main Methods:
- Iterative, user-centered design approach involving children with FA, caregivers, and experts.
- Phase 1: Prototype development and pilot testing with family input.
- Phase 2: Full app development and open trial with iterative refinement based on feedback.
Main Results:
- High ratings for acceptability and credibility of the F3-App.
- Minimal technical challenges reported during installation and use.
- Positive reception by children and caregivers, with content found useful and prompting family discussions.
Conclusions:
- User input is crucial for developing family-friendly software for pediatric chronic condition management.
- Interactive educational software can enhance self-management skills and confidence in children.
- The F3-App can facilitate family communication regarding the stresses of FA management.
Objective:
Despite a marked increase in the prevalence of pediatric IgE-mediated food allergy (FA) in recent decades, there is a dearth of age-appropriate management education and support tools for youth with FA. The purpose of this report is to detail our methods for intervention design and refinement of an interactive educational software program for school-aged children with FA.
Methods:
Development of the "Friends, Family and Food Application (F3-App)" employed an iterative, user-centered design approach with input from children with FA, their caregivers, and other key experts. Phase 1 (Prototype Development/Pilot Evaluation) involved family input on key themes and educational messages, development of a prototype, and pilot testing. Phase 2 (Full F3-App Development/Open Trial) included refinement and expansion of the prototype per advisory panel and end-user recommendations, followed by an open trial with additional iterative refinement.
Results:
Acceptability and credibility of the F3-App were rated highly by most participants. Relatively few technical challenges arose with F3-App installation or use. Follow up interviews with children and caregivers suggested that the F3-App was generally well-received, families found the content useful, and that it prompted family discussion about the child's FA management.
Conclusions:
User input is critical to developing family-friendly software to support management of pediatric chronic conditions. Interactive educational software can be a useful channel for children to practice skills and build confidence in disease self-management and to facilitate family communication regarding the stresses of FA management.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05111938.
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