“Don’t sweat it buddy, it’s OK”: an exploration of the needs of adolescents with disabilities when designing a mobile application for weight management and healthy lifestyles

Abstract

Purpose: Adolescents with disabilities often demonstrate higher sedentary behaviours, lower physical activity levels, poorer quality diets, and higher rates of overweight and obesity than typically developing youth. This study had two objectives: 1) To understand the needs and priorities of adolescents with disabilities, parents, and the healthcare professionals who work with them around healthy lifestyles and weight management; and 2) To explore whether and how a mobile application could address these needs.Methods: Multiple perspectives were gathered through separate qualitative focus groups with adolescents with disabilities (12–17 years), parents, and rehabilitation healthcare professionals. Data were analysed using descriptive thematic analysis.Results: Parents (n = 6) and healthcare professionals (n = 9) described the complex needs of adolescents with disabilities around weight management and healthy lifestyles, including balancing differing priorities and a lack of appropriate resources. Adolescents (n = 7) endorsed the potential for technology to enhance their health through empowerment and having a virtual support system. All stakeholder groups endorsed taking a holistic, wellness approach.Conclusions: Adolescents with disabilities have a complex lifestyle and weight management needs, but mobile applications have the potential to provide individualized support. It is critical that anyone developing mobile applications engage a range of stakeholders as co-designers.Implications for rehabilitationAdolescents with disabilities have complex support needs and priorities around weight management and healthy lifestyles.Existing resources do not take into account the wide-ranging abilities of adolescents with disabilities.Mobile applications have the potential to empower adolescents and provide tailored support around healthy lifestyles.Including user input when designing technologies is critical.