Academic Journal
Access to an mHealth Tool for Symptom Management in Pediatric Oncology Care: Triangulation Study.
| Title: | Access to an mHealth Tool for Symptom Management in Pediatric Oncology Care: Triangulation Study. |
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| Authors: | Höök A; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, 40530, Sweden, 46 736855342.; University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden.; Crown Princess Victoria Children´s Hospital, Region Östergötland, Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden., Forsgren E; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, 40530, Sweden, 46 736855342.; University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden., Björk M; The CHILD Research Group, Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden., Castor C; University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden.; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.; The Institute for Palliative Care, Region Skåne, Lund University, Lund, Sweden., Nordh E; Crown Princess Victoria Children´s Hospital, Region Östergötland, Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden.; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden., Nilsson S; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, 40530, Sweden, 46 736855342.; University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden.; Queen Silvia Children´s Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. |
| Source: | JMIR formative research [JMIR Form Res] 2026 Jul 02; Vol. 10, pp. e93934. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 02. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: JMIR Publications Country of Publication: Canada NLM ID: 101726394 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2561-326X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 2561326X NLM ISO Abbreviation: JMIR Form Res Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Toronto, ON, Canada : JMIR Publications, [2017]- |
| MeSH Terms: | Telemedicine*/standards , Telemedicine*/statistics & numerical data , Pediatrics*/methods , Pediatrics*/instrumentation , Pediatrics*/standards , Medical Oncology*/methods , Medical Oncology*/standards , Neoplasms*/therapy , Symptom Assessment*/methods, Humans ; Child ; Female ; Adolescent ; Male ; Sweden ; Digital Health |
| Abstract: | Background: Digital health offers opportunities to facilitate symptom assessments and communication for children with cancer, particularly after discharge. However, access to these tools must be established to ensure that they effectively support the user. PicPecc (Pictorial Support in Person-Centered Care for Children) is a mobile health tool developed to enable children to remotely assess symptoms and communicate with health care professionals. Understanding access to PicPecc is essential for evaluating its use in pediatric oncology. Objective: The aim was to test a digital intervention with PicPecc in pediatric oncology care through the lens of access to technology. Methods: This study uses a triangulation approach to determine access to digital technology through an intervention, PicPecc outside hospital. Fourteen children (6-17 y), 5 parents, and 6 nurses from 2 pediatric oncology units in Sweden participated. Children were encouraged to use PicPecc for 2 weeks (achieving a median of 14, IQR 9.75-16 days) following hospital discharge to assess pain, nausea, sleep disturbances, and feelings using an assessment scale, pictures, personal notes, and a chat function. Nurses monitored assessments and responded via the administrative interface. Access was analyzed through interviews and an instrument, and by recording the consumption of PicPecc. Data analysis was based on the 5 dimensions of access (availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability, and acceptability). Results: The intervention, PicPecc outside hospital, supported availability by enabling children to communicate symptoms in a safe and structured way. Children and parents mentioned feeling safe when they were discharged from the hospital, and nurses perceived it as a valuable complement to follow-up after discharge. PicPecc outside hospital was generally accessible, although initial challenges with log-in procedures related to the PIN code were common. Barriers related to accommodation included interpreting the scale and obtaining an overview of assessments. Affordability was high, as internet access and device availability were not barriers; however, children's motivation varied depending on symptom burden. Acceptability was strong among children up to 12 years of age, who appreciated the design and gaming function, while the older children found the visual design less age-appropriate. Conclusions: Access to the mobile health tool, PicPecc outside hospital, appears promising for supporting remote symptom assessment in pediatric oncology, particularly among children up to 12 years of age. However, identified barriers, such as motivational factors and integration into the health care system, need to be addressed. (© Angelica Höök, Emma Forsgren, Maria Björk, Charlotte Castor, Emma Nordh, Stefan Nilsson. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org).) |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Electronic Faces Thermometer Scale; PicPecc; access; digital tool; eFTS; mHealth; mobile health; pediatric oncology; symptom assessment |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260702 Date Completed: 20260702 Latest Revision: 20260904 |
| Update Code: | 20260904 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13327532 |
| DOI: | 10.2196/93934 |
| PMID: | 42391633 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 2561-326X |
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| DOI: | 10.2196/93934 |