A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients
Patients and families increasingly use mobile apps as a relaxation and distraction intervention for children with complex, chronic medical conditions in the waiting room setting or during inpatient hospitalizations; and yet, there is limited data on app quality assessment or review of these apps for...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/5/2/16 |
| _version_ | 1818967275948998656 |
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| author | Taelyr Weekly Nicole Walker Jill Beck Sean Akers Meaghann Weaver |
| author_facet | Taelyr Weekly Nicole Walker Jill Beck Sean Akers Meaghann Weaver |
| author_sort | Taelyr Weekly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Patients and families increasingly use mobile apps as a relaxation and distraction intervention for children with complex, chronic medical conditions in the waiting room setting or during inpatient hospitalizations; and yet, there is limited data on app quality assessment or review of these apps for level of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, or applicability for palliative pediatric patients. The pediatric palliative care study team searched smartphone application platforms for apps relevant to calming, relaxation, and mindfulness for pediatric and adolescent patients. Apps were reviewed using a systematic data extraction tool. Validated Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) scores were determined by two blinded reviewers. Apps were then characterized by infant, child, adolescent, and adult caregiver group categories. Reviewer discussion resulted in consensus. Sixteen of the 22 apps identified were included in the final analysis. The apps operated on either iOS or Android platforms. All were available in English with four available in Spanish. Apps featured a relaxation approach (12/16), soothing images (8/16), and breathing techniques (8/16). Mood and sleep patterns were the main symptoms targeted by apps. Provision of mobile apps resource summary has the potential to foster pediatric palliative care providers’ knowledge of app functionality and applicability as part of ongoing patient care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T13:46:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bbc9ad6ea50426cbe42d5e1a1a500f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T13:46:13Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bbc9ad6ea50426cbe42d5e1a1a500f72022-12-21T19:38:39ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672018-01-01521610.3390/children5020016children5020016A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care PatientsTaelyr Weekly0Nicole Walker1Jill Beck2Sean Akers3Meaghann Weaver4Department of Cardiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, South 42nd Street and Emile Street, Omaha, NE 68198, USAChildren’s Hospital and Medical Center 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USAChildren’s Hospital and Medical Center 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USAChildren’s Hospital and Medical Center 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USAChildren’s Hospital and Medical Center 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USAPatients and families increasingly use mobile apps as a relaxation and distraction intervention for children with complex, chronic medical conditions in the waiting room setting or during inpatient hospitalizations; and yet, there is limited data on app quality assessment or review of these apps for level of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, or applicability for palliative pediatric patients. The pediatric palliative care study team searched smartphone application platforms for apps relevant to calming, relaxation, and mindfulness for pediatric and adolescent patients. Apps were reviewed using a systematic data extraction tool. Validated Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) scores were determined by two blinded reviewers. Apps were then characterized by infant, child, adolescent, and adult caregiver group categories. Reviewer discussion resulted in consensus. Sixteen of the 22 apps identified were included in the final analysis. The apps operated on either iOS or Android platforms. All were available in English with four available in Spanish. Apps featured a relaxation approach (12/16), soothing images (8/16), and breathing techniques (8/16). Mood and sleep patterns were the main symptoms targeted by apps. Provision of mobile apps resource summary has the potential to foster pediatric palliative care providers’ knowledge of app functionality and applicability as part of ongoing patient care.http://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/5/2/16technologymobile applicationsmeditationmultimediachildrenpalliativerelaxationstress |
| spellingShingle | Taelyr Weekly Nicole Walker Jill Beck Sean Akers Meaghann Weaver A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients Children technology mobile applications meditation multimedia children palliative relaxation stress |
| title | A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients |
| title_full | A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients |
| title_fullStr | A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients |
| title_short | A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients |
| title_sort | review of apps for calming relaxation and mindfulness interventions for pediatric palliative care patients |
| topic | technology mobile applications meditation multimedia children palliative relaxation stress |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/5/2/16 |
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