Needs Analysis for a Parenting App to Prevent Unintentional Injury in Newborn Babies and Toddlers: Focus Group and Survey Study Among Chinese Caregivers

Abstract

Background With the growing popularity of mobile health technology, app-based interventions delivered by smartphone have become an increasingly important strategy toward injury prevention. Objective This study aimed to develop a framework supporting the design of an app-based intervention to prevent unintentional injury, targeted for caregivers of Chinese children aged 0 to 6 years. Methods A theory-based mixed-method study, including focus groups and Web-based quantitative survey, was performed. Adult caregivers who care for children aged 0 to 6 years and own a smartphone were recruited into 2 sequential stages of research. First, focus groups were conducted among the caregivers at community health care centers and preschools from December 2015 to March 2016. Focus groups (8-10 participants per group) explored awareness, experiences, and opinions of caregivers toward using an app to prevent unintentional injury among children. Second, based on the focus groups findings, a Web-based quantitative survey was designed and distributed to caregivers in November 2016; it collected information on specific needs for the app-based intervention. Thematic analysis and quantitative descriptive analyses were performed. Results In total, 12 focus groups were completed, involving 108 caregivers. Most participants expressed a strong desire to learn knowledge and skills about unintentional child injury prevention and held positive attitudes toward app-based interventions. Participants expressed multiple preferences concerning the app-based intervention, including their contents, functions, interactive styles, installation and registration logistics, and privacy protection and information security. Following the focus groups, 1505 caregivers completed a WeChat-based quantitative survey, which generated roughly similar results to those of focus groups and added numerical metrics concerning participants’ preferences on what to learn, when to learn it, and how to learn it. A detailed framework was established involving 5 components: (1) content design, (2) functional design, (3) interactive style, (4) installation and registration logistics, and (5) privacy protection and information security, and 15 specific requirements. Conclusions We developed a framework that can be used as a guide to design app-based interventions for parents and caregivers, specifically for unintentional injury prevention of children aged 0 to 6 years.

Perceptions and Acceptability of a Smartphone App Intervention (ChildSafe) in Malaysia: Qualitative Exploratory Study

“…With regard to the study by Jabaley et al [49], using an iPhone (mobile device) as an in-home child safety intervention among 3 families with young children reduced home hazards to almost zero [46]. Similar studies on injury prevention apps for parents and caregivers have also been undertaken by Roberts et al [17], McKenzie et al [11], Chow et al [21], and Ning et al [18][19][20], and these indicated that such apps have improved parental safety knowledge, environmental modification, and successfully facilitated behavior change.…”

“…Smartphones are predominantly seen as a promising and cost-effective medium to deliver health-related interventions [ 16 ]. To date, there are a few app-based interventions developed for unintentional home injuries; for example, Make Safe Happen for parents of children aged 0-12 years [ 11 , 17 ], Caregivers for children aged 0-6 years [ 18 ], Primary Caregivers of preschoolers aged 3-6 years [ 19 , 20 ], and Mothers with children under 3 years of age [ 21 ]. Education and promotion can be implemented through this platform to reach a larger segment of the population.…”

An App-Based Intervention for Caregivers to Prevent Unintentional Injury Among Preschoolers: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Among the components that receive focus are usability of the device and app, capacities of the learners, and social interaction between users. We followed the FRAME model when developing the app and its multiple components; we implemented the FRAME model through results from a needs assessment that consisted of a series of focus groups plus online surveys among key stakeholders, including preschool teachers and caregivers of preschoolers [23].…”

Mamá Divino - Um protótipo de aplicativo móvel como ferramenta na boa prática do aleitamento materno

“…A literatura científica demonstra que os aplicativos móveis, juntamente com as informações que eles proporcionam, podem ser empregados para melhorar os resultados de saúde e reduzir os riscos, principalmente em programas educacionais. Eles também desempenham um papel importante na compreensão dos fatores que afetam a saúde dos recémnascidos 16 .…”