Pediatric eHealth Interventions: Common Challenges
Pediatric eHealth Interventions: Common Challenges
Although creating and testing pediatric focused eHealth interventions is still a relatively new area of research, there has been substantial work conducted from which to learn and guide future endeavors. Numerous challenges in pediatric eHealth research have been identified and some solutions can now be offered. Models of eHealth program development and testing have been created, and theories of behavior change have been used as program foundations. However, continued testing of eHealth programs consistent with these theories is needed. Many decisions must be made to assemble a strong team, including who to include and how best to weigh costs and benefits. Securing funding is an unremitting issue most researchers struggle to overcome, but diversifying where to seek funds and understanding how to make best use of limited means while keeping larger goals in mind can ultimately result in success. Researchers and developers can also learn from the considerable work that has already occurred in program development and implementation. A number of factors should be considered when designing eHealth programs, including the potential of working on established platforms, prioritizing program features to develop, using proven theory as a basis for the program, ensuring ethical, safety, security, and privacy issues are addressed, and keeping in mind longer term issues of dissemination and sustainability (see Table I for a review of key issues to consider). Rather than "recreate the wheel" each time a new eHealth intervention is developed, we should take advantage of the work that has already been conducted, learn from it, and propel ourselves further forward in the process of creating the most useful, effective, and cost-efficient programs possible.
Conclusions
Although creating and testing pediatric focused eHealth interventions is still a relatively new area of research, there has been substantial work conducted from which to learn and guide future endeavors. Numerous challenges in pediatric eHealth research have been identified and some solutions can now be offered. Models of eHealth program development and testing have been created, and theories of behavior change have been used as program foundations. However, continued testing of eHealth programs consistent with these theories is needed. Many decisions must be made to assemble a strong team, including who to include and how best to weigh costs and benefits. Securing funding is an unremitting issue most researchers struggle to overcome, but diversifying where to seek funds and understanding how to make best use of limited means while keeping larger goals in mind can ultimately result in success. Researchers and developers can also learn from the considerable work that has already occurred in program development and implementation. A number of factors should be considered when designing eHealth programs, including the potential of working on established platforms, prioritizing program features to develop, using proven theory as a basis for the program, ensuring ethical, safety, security, and privacy issues are addressed, and keeping in mind longer term issues of dissemination and sustainability (see Table I for a review of key issues to consider). Rather than "recreate the wheel" each time a new eHealth intervention is developed, we should take advantage of the work that has already been conducted, learn from it, and propel ourselves further forward in the process of creating the most useful, effective, and cost-efficient programs possible.
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