Planning and optimizing a digital self-management support intervention: Acne Care Online.

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Behaviour change science
• Adolescent dermatology

Background:

• Young people with acne face challenges in self-management and treatment adherence.
• Digital tools can support behaviour change for chronic condition management.
• Developing effective digital interventions requires a theory, evidence, and person-based approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the planning and optimization of a digital behaviour change intervention for young people with acne, named Acne Care Online.
• To illustrate the application of Medical Research Council guidance in intervention development.

Main Methods:

• A theory, evidence, and person-based approach guided by Medical Research Council guidance.
• Systematic literature reviews, health psychology theory, and qualitative interviews with young people, parents, and healthcare professionals.
• Iterative development and optimization of intervention content through think-aloud interviews with 53 intended users.

Main Results:

• Acne Care Online was developed and is ready for trial evaluation.
• Identified self-management challenges include reluctance to consult and misconceptions about acne treatments.
• Early feedback indicated Acne Care Online is engaging, informative, relevant, and potentially integrable into clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the value of theory and person-informed processes in developing behaviour change interventions.
• Acne Care Online demonstrated acceptability and perceived value among the target audience.
• Findings offer insights for clinicians supporting young people with acne self-management.