Parents' views on using mobile applications to facilitate information exchange in pediatric rehabilitation

To explore the needs and expectations of parents of children with chronic conditions regarding information exchange via mobile applications in pediatric rehabilitation.

Qualitative online focus group study with parents of children undergoing rehabilitation. Maximum variation sampling included mothers and fathers of children with diverse ages, conditions, communication abilities, rehabilitation durations, and settings. Researchers conducted inductive content analysis until data saturation, with interpretations cross-checked by a parent-partner.

Three focus groups involved 14 parents (mean age 41.5 ± 6 years; 10 women). Three categories emerged: (1) From fragmented rehabilitation pathways to integrated care: applications could centralize information, support holistic child-centered follow-up, enable personalized goal-setting, and facilitate knowledge sharing among peers and professionals; (2) Key components for success: applications should recognize parents' expertise and central role, involve all stakeholders early, offer user-friendly interfaces, and structure communication effectively; (3) Challenges in information sharing: effective implementation requires engagement of all stakeholders, attention to interpersonal dynamics, and secure, legally compliant data sharing.

Parents view applications as valuable tools for improving information exchange, personalized rehabilitation, and home guidance. Effective pediatric rehabilitation applications must support multi-stakeholder coordination, integrate peer support and professional expertise to ensure reliable knowledge, empower parents, and ensure secure, accessible data.