2014 Conference

Abstract: Although young people are frequent users of mobile devices in day-to-day life, there is little reliable research that actually involves young people with long-term conditions as partners in the development and testing of mobile technology applications to support their health needs. However, the transition from child to adult health services means that young people need to develop their own clinical skills and knowledge so that they can manage their condition in a confident and competent manner. Therefore this area of research is ripe for development.

A group involving a patient with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a parent, doctors, nurses, researchers and technologists have established a Manchester-based research and development programme on mobile technologies for young people with long term conditions. We have fostered strong partnerships with other national groups to help us agree on research priorities in this important area, and a plan of work to help us achieve these.

First we obtained valuable suggestions from a national group of children and young people with JIA on the types of information and tools they would like to see included in a JIA specific mobile application. Next we are reviewing the research evidence to help us in our future work, and working with young people, parents and health professionals to produce a detailed software specification for a prototype application to test with young people. This poster will explore and discuss the progress we have made, with a focus on the central role of young people and their families living with JIA in the project.

Download poster

Authors

Hall ~ Andrew

Andrew Hall is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Online Education in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at the University of Manchester. Andrew has particular interest in the development, use and impact of mobile technologies in health and social care education and service provision.

View all articles by this author

Stones ~ Simon

Simon Stones is a University of Manchester Biomedical Sciences undergraduate and has first-hand experience of living with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). He is a consumer representative with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)/Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) paediatric rheumatology Clinical Study Group (CSG) and has membership with various patient and public involvement (PPI) groups. He is passionate about involving patients and their families in managing their health.

View all articles by this author

Swallow ~ Veronica

Veronica Swallow is a Senior Lecturer in Children's Nursing at the University of Manchester. As a paediatric nurse with a longstanding commitment to family led research to guide clinical practice, she moved into research mid-career and continues to work closely with the NHS. She combines working with families and professionals on child, young person and family research, with teaching health professionals.

View all articles by this author

« Go back