Introducing Parents to Mobile Phone-Based Application of Child Emergency Situation and Homecare: A Trial in Real Primary Care Setting

Abstract

Childhood period was a critical time for the growth and development. Thus, parents have the main role for early detection of emergency situation and give prompt homecare. The application (P3KIDS) consist of nine major sign and symptoms in pediatric care that guide parents to screen emergency situation and give homecare recommendation. This is qualitative study using observation and in-depth interview. A parents seminar was held in two district in Depok City to introduce this application. At the end, each parents trial this application, mainly based on their previous parenting experience. In-depth interview then conducted in ten selected parents to acquire their perspective in both health and technology perspective. Result: A total of 60 parents was participating, mostly aged 30 years above, high education level, and middle-to-high economic classes. Previously, parents were less aware to several child emergency situation, mostly about trauma. This application was succesfully bridging their knowledge gap. Parents were enthusiast and willing to explore this application further. In-depth interview showed that this application help much in recognizing child sign and symptom, easy to access, and provide reliable homecare recomendation. Among the burden of this application was several medical words and user interface. They agree that this application was helpful and applicable. Mobile phone-based application of child emergency situation and homecare was well-welcomed and easily operated by parents. This is a promising medical technology innovation to empower parents and increase child health status. A further trial was needed in different community to evaluate its acceptability.