ASK DIPaC: Acutely Sick Kid Digital Interventions for Parents from under-represented Communities

A project to understand and improve access to digital health interventions for parents with a sick child
Worried mother checking the temperature of her sick daughter
We want to find out about parents’ experiences of using websites or apps, when they have a sick child under five years. What do parents find difficult, easy, useful or not useful and how would they like it to work? We are asking parents in under-represented communities. We are looking at illnesses that happen suddenly and do not last very long. These illnesses are more common in children under five, such as coughs, colds and less common serious infections like meningitis and pneumonia.
When we want health information and health services, we are expected to use technology more and more. If children are ill at home for example, parents need information to help them decide what to do. Information is often online such as on websites or mobile apps to book and attend appointments or for video meetings with health staff. Not everyone is able to use technology, this may include people on low incomes without computers, those who lack reading skills and other minority groups, who are often not included in research projects. When asking parents what we should call this group of people in our research they suggested “under-represented.”
Working with Parent Volunteer Coordinators at Barnardo’s Centres in Brent, Newcastle, and the Isle of Wight, we will ask parents with children under five to take part in:
  • Discussion groups, of up to eight parents, face-to-face OR virtually on Zoom.
  • ‘Think aloud interviews.’ During these interviews, parents will talk with a researcher about how they have used technology when their child was ill.
Information for parents about the project will be provided in the dominant languages at each Centre. Translation will be available during discussion groups and interviews.
Our parent panel has helped to design the project. They will continue to be involved. Parent Volunteer Coordinators from each of the Centres will join our project team and the parent panel. Parent Volunteer Coordinators will be provided with research training, they will share information about the project and identify parents to take part. They will be supported by our Patient and Public Involvement Lead.
This project is independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number NIHR206352). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

The project team