From theory to practice: insights into intervention development of the NON-STOP app for children with Perthes'...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Intervention Development
• Digital Health Tools
• Pediatric Orthopaedics

Background:

• Healthcare interventions often lack theoretical grounding, impacting engagement and effectiveness.
• Complex interventions require structured development approaches.
• Digital self-management tools offer potential for pediatric chronic condition management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical guidance on developing complex healthcare interventions.
• To illustrate the development process using a digital tool for pediatric Perthes' disease.
• To share lessons learned for future intervention development.

Main Methods:

• Application of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for complex interventions.
• Integration of psychological theory to inform intervention design.
• Inclusion of stakeholder engagement throughout the development process.

Main Results:

• A digital self-management tool, the Non-Surgical Treatment of Perthes' (NON-STOP) app, was developed for children with Perthes' disease.
• The development process highlighted the importance of theoretical basis, psychological principles, and stakeholder input.
• Practical considerations and lessons learned were identified for developing similar interventions.

Conclusions:

• A structured approach, integrating theory and stakeholder input, is crucial for effective complex intervention development.
• The NON-STOP app exemplifies a theoretically-informed digital intervention for pediatric orthopaedic conditions.
• Findings offer actionable insights for clinicians and researchers in developing future healthcare interventions.