Background: Digital health sources (DHSs) become increasingly integral in healthcare of chronic respiratory diseases. Identifying barriers and facilitators of using DHSs for the care of children and adolescents with chronic suppurative lung diseases (CSLDs) is key for their successful implementation and potential improvements in disease management. The objective of this study was to identify the perceived barriers and facilitators of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and parents of children and adolescents with CSLDs for the use of DHSs.
Methods: Two focus groups, one with seven HCPs and one with six parents, run through Microsoft Teams. An experienced moderator led both sessions with the assistance of two facilitators, using a semi-structured topic guide. Audiovisual recording was verbatim transcribed, and followed by thematic analysis.
Results: Overall, eleven main themes were yield. Technical complexities, psychological aversions, socioeconomic challenges, privacy concerns, and therapy-related issues were identified as barriers to the adoption of DHSs. Attractive content, improved accessibility, technical support, familiarity with technology, training for users, and shared decision-making with the family, were reported as core facilitators. Technical complexities and psychological aversions were common barriers in both focus groups, whereas content, accessibility, and technical support were common facilitators.
Conclusions: DHSs for children and adolescents with CSLDs need to consider attractive content layout, technical assistance, cost-free accessibility, and broad compatibility, since these are important issues reported by HCPs and parents.
Keywords: Barriers; Chronic suppurative lung diseases; Digital health; Facilitators; Focus groups; Perceptions.
Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.