TY  - JOUR
AU  - Sezgin, Emre
AU  - Weiler, Monica
AU  - Weiler, Anthony
AU  - Lin, Simon
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/09/06
TI  - Proposing an Ecosystem of Digital Health Solutions for Teens With Chronic Conditions Transitioning to Self-Management and Independence: Exploratory Qualitative Study
JO  - J Med Internet Res
SP  - e10285
VL  - 20
IS  - 9
KW  - chronic disease
KW  - chronic disease management
KW  - digital health
KW  - ecosystem
KW  - qualitative research
KW  - self-management
KW  - transition to independence
KW  - technology-based solutions
AB  - Background: Chronic disease management is critical to quality of life for both teen patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers. However, current literature is largely limited to a specific digital health tool, method, or approach to manage a specific disease. Guiding principles on how to use digital tools to support the transition to independence are rare. Considering the physiological, psychological, and environmental changes that teens experience, the issues surrounding the transition to independence are worth investigating to develop a deeper understanding to inform future strategies for digital interventions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to inform the design of digital health solutions by systematically identifying common challenges among teens and caregivers living with chronic diseases. Methods: Chronically ill teens (n=13) and their caregivers (n=13) were interviewed individually and together as a team. Verbal and projective techniques were used to examine teens’ and caregivers’ concerns in-depth. The recorded and transcribed responses were thematically analyzed to identify and organize the identified patterns. Results: Teens and their caregivers identified 10 challenges and suggested technological solutions. Recognized needs for social support, access to medical education, symptom monitoring, access to health care providers, and medical supply management were the predominant issues. The envisioned ideal transition included a 5-component solution ecosystem in the transition to independence for teens. Conclusions: This novel study systematically summarizes the challenges, barriers, and technological solutions for teens with chronic conditions and their caregivers as teens transition to independence. A new solution ecosystem based on the 10 identified challenges would guide the design of future implementations to test and validate the effectiveness of the proposed 5-component ecosystem. 
SN  - 1438-8871
UR  - http://www.jmir.org/2018/9/e10285/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/10285
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30190253
DO  - 10.2196/10285
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/10285
ER  -