Systematic and Collaborative Approach to Learning and Educational Content Development (SCALED) for Health Apps: An...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Informatics
• Mobile Health (mHealth)

Background:

• Mobile health (mHealth) apps are crucial for noncommunicable disease management but suffer from inconsistent content quality.
• Current frameworks for mHealth apps often overlook the critical aspect of educational content creation.
• This gap impacts app effectiveness and user safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Systematic and Collaborative Approach to Learning and Educational Content Development (SCALED) framework.
• To provide a structured, evidence-based methodology for developing high-quality mHealth educational content.
• To address the need for improved content veracity in mHealth applications.

Main Methods:

• The SCALED framework was developed and refined through 3 phases.
• It comprises 11 components organized into 3 sequential stages: planning, content development, and finalization.
• The framework integrates real-world app development experience, qualitative study findings, and stakeholder insights.

Main Results:

• SCALED offers a systematic and collaborative approach to mHealth educational content development.
• The framework is designed for app developers, researchers, and healthcare providers.
• It includes practical application through 2 mHealth use cases.

Conclusions:

• The SCALED framework addresses a critical gap in current mHealth guidance.
• It provides a replicable methodology to enhance the quality and reliability of mHealth content.
• SCALED has the potential for adaptation across various medical conditions to improve patient education and self-management.