Children and young people's preferences and needs when using health technology to self-manage a long-term condition: a scoping review

Rosemary Jane Court, Veronica Swallow, Sarab El-Yousfi, Kara Gray-Burrows, Fiona Sotir, Gemma Wheeler, Ian Kellar, Jia Mang Lee, Robyn Mitchell, Wiktoria Mlynarczyk, Arnav Ramavath, Paul Dimitri, Bob Phillips, Lucy Prodgers, Madeleine Pownall, Marcin Kowalczyk, Jacob Branchflower, Lauren Powell, Sadiq Bhanbhro, Anna WeighallJacqueline Martin-Kerry

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The use of patient-facing health technologies to manage long-term conditions (LTCs) is increasing; however, children and young people (CYP) may have preferences about health technologies which they interact or engage with, that influence their decision to use these technologies.

AIMS: To identify CYP's reported preferences about health technologies to self-manage LTCs.

METHODS: We undertook a scoping review, searching MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL in July 2021. Searches were limited to papers published between January 2015 and July 2021. We included any health technologies used to manage physical and mental LTCs. Qualitative content analysis of study data was undertaken to categorise data into themes and quantitative data were described and visually represented. We engaged CYP with LTCs to support the review design, interpretation of findings and development of recommendations.

RESULTS: 161 journal articles were included, describing preferences of CYP. Most included studies were undertaken in high-income countries. CYP's main preferences and needs were: design and functionality; privacy and sharing; customisation and personalisation of the technology; and interaction options within the technology.

CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights important preferences and needs that CYP may have before using technologies to self-manage their LTC. These should be considered when developing technology for this population. Future research should involve CYP throughout the development of the technologies, from identifying their unmet needs through to final design, development, evaluation and implementation of the intervention.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)826-835
Number of pages10
Journal Archives of Disease in Childhood
Volume109
Issue number10
Early online date14 Aug 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Sept 2024

Bibliographical note

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Child
  • Adolescent
  • Patient Preference
  • Chronic Disease/therapy
  • Self-Management/methods
  • Biomedical Technology

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