Commentary: pediatric eHealth interventions: common challenges during development, implementation, and dissemination

Yelena P Wu; Ric G Steele; Mark A Connelly; Tonya M Palermo; Lee M Ritterband

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsu022

Commentary: pediatric eHealth interventions: common challenges during development, implementation, and dissemination

J Pediatr Psychol. 2014 Jul;39(6):612-23. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsu022. Epub 2014 May 10.

Authors

Yelena P Wu¹, Ric G Steele², Mark A Connelly², Tonya M Palermo³, Lee M Ritterband²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Research Institute, and Behavioral Health and Technology, University of Virginia Health System yelena.wu@utah.edu.
² Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Research Institute, and Behavioral Health and Technology, University of Virginia Health System.
³ Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Research Institute, and Behavioral Health and Technology, University of Virginia Health SystemDivision of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Research Institute, and Behavioral Health and Technology, University of Virginia Health System.

Abstract

Objective: To provide an overview of common challenges that pediatric eHealth researchers may encounter when planning, developing, testing, and disseminating eHealth interventions along with proposed solutions for addressing these challenges.

Methods: The article draws on the existing eHealth literature and the authors' collective experience in pediatric eHealth research.

Results and conclusions: The challenges associated with eHealth interventions and their proposed solutions are multifaceted and cut across a number of areas from eHealth program development through dissemination. Collaboration with a range of individuals (e.g., multidisciplinary colleagues, commercial entities, primary stakeholders) is the key to eHealth intervention success. To ensure adequate resources for design, development, and planning for sustainability, a number of public and private sources of funding are available. A study design that addresses ethical concerns and security issues is critical to ensure scientific integrity and intervention dissemination. Table I summarizes key issues to consider during eHealth intervention development, testing, and dissemination.

Keywords: design; eHealth; implementation; mHealth.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Child
Humans
Medical Informatics*
Pediatrics*
Telemedicine*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding