Mobile health applications for parents of children with Hirschsprung disease: a requirement analysis

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a congenital gastrointestinal disorder that occurs due to the absence of nerve cells in segments of the large intestine, resulting in impaired propulsive bowel movements. Postoperative complications and the need for continuous care place parents of affected children under significant educational challenges. Mobile health (mHealth) applications can serve as effective tools to enhance parental education and self-management. The aim of this study was to identify the requirements and functional needs of a mHealth application specifically designed for parents of children with HD. This research was conducted as a mixed-methods study in two phases. First, a targeted literature review was performed, and a list of informational needs and functional capabilities of the application was extracted. These items were then compiled into a Delphi questionnaire and distributed to 13 pediatric gastroenterologists and pediatric surgeons. Responses were analyzed based on the mean score of each item, and items with low mean scores were excluded. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six parents of children with HD to collect their perspectives on educational needs and desired application features. Qualitative data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method. In the Delphi phase, 67 items across four main categories-demographic data, disease-related clinical data, educational content, and application functional capabilities-were approved, while two items ("insurance coverage" and "guardian access to medical record information") were excluded. Analysis of qualitative findings led to the extraction of four themes, nine categories, and 20 subcategories. Parents identified their most important needs as comprehensive and understandable educational content, reminder and care-tracking tools, remote communication and consultation capabilities, and a simple, user-friendly design.

Integrating the perspectives of specialists and parents resulted in the development of a comprehensive set of requirements for designing a mHealth application tailored to parents of children with HD. This framework can serve as a model for developing similar educational applications for other pediatric gastrointestinal diseases and provides a foundation for future supportive digital intervention design.

• Parents of children with Hirschsprung disease often face ongoing challenges in understanding postoperative care, recognizing warning signs, and managing long-term complications. • Mobile health applications have been increasingly used to support education, self-management, and communication in chronic pediatric conditions.

• This study identifi es the specifi c informational and functional requirements of a mobile health application tailored for parents of children with Hirschsprung disease through a mixed-methods needs assessment. • By integrating the perspectives of both specialists and parents, the study provides a practical framework to guide the development of a user-centered application in this field.