Web-Based Knowledge Translation Tools for Parents of Children with Heart Failure: An Environmental Scan

Abstract

<h3>Purpose</h3> Childhood heart failure (HF) accounts for a proportion of cardiac admissions to hospital each year. Successfully discharging a child with heart failure involves effective parent education. Inadequate knowledge uptake by parents can result in numerous encounters with the health system, less parental decision-making, and heightened familial anxiety. Environmental scans (ES) are a methodology used to understand what resources are available for specific topics. No ESs have been completed in pediatric HF context. We embarked on an ES to better understand what educational resources exist for parents who have a child with HF. <h3>Methods</h3> We conducted a comprehensive search using key search term within the Internet (Google) and two popular application stores (Apple & Google Play), common venues where parents search for information. Inclusion criteria were: 1) educational pediatric HF content, 2) tools developed in either Canada or the US, 3) information targeting parent audiences, and 4) English language tools. Each tool was appraised for health literacy using the Suitability of Assessment Measures (percentage scores 0-100% assigned within 6 domain subsections). Key informants who played a role in tool development were identified and invited for a semi-structured interview. Descriptive statistics included frequencies and means and thematic analysis were performed. <h3>Results</h3> The search occurred in 06/2020. No applications met inclusion criteria and 16 web-based tools met inclusion criteria. Included tools were in the form of webpages (n=13) and handouts (n=3). Our health literacy assessment revealed that most tools scored in the adequate range (40-69%; n=15) and 2 scored as non-suitable (0-39%). All ratings in the graphics subsection were unanimously rated as not suitable and all scores in the layout and type subsection were unanimously rates as superior. Four organizations participated in interviews. Three themes were identified (introductory knowledge, credible, and challenges/evolution of knowledge). Interviews suggested more effective knowledge translation strategies and a need for more in-depth knowledge. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Our ES has identified that no applications exist and a modest number of web-based tools for parents about their child's heart failure. Improvements to graphics would help the overall delivery and uptake of content for parent audiences.