Application Design for Child Obesity Management Based on Users' Preferences and Needs

• Published in: Western journal of nursing research Vol. 42; no. 5; p. 356
• Main Authors: Lee, Jisan, Jeongeun, Kim, Ahjung, Byun, Meiling, Jin, Meihua, Piao, Kyungryeon, Kwak, Hyeoiyun, Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment - trends; Patient Preference - psychology; Pediatric Obesity - psychology; Pediatric Obesity - therapy; Precision Medicine; Surveys and Questionnaires; Weight Reduction Programs - methods; Weight Reduction Programs - trends; pediatric obesity; family; health service needs and demands; mobile applications
• ISSN: 1552-8456
• DOI: 10.1177/0193945919862797

This study aimed to investigate the constructive preferences and needs of children and guardians in a child obesity management application, and to suggest and visualize the key features of its design. To reflect users' preferences and needs, the questionnaires used in this study were developed in four stages: draft, validity test, review, and final version. The survey was conducted with fifth and sixth grade children who are overweight or obese and their guardians. Differences were observed by gender and between children and guardians with respect to children's perceived body shape, technology experience and preferences, preferred obesity management method, application design, exercise and diet-related features, preferred partner for obesity management, and preferred reward after mission completion. Our study suggests and visualizes the key features of a child obesity management application for both children and guardians based on their preferences and needs, which can be utilized by both application developers and researchers.