CONCERTO app for pediatric inpatients : A qualitative exploration of user experience and empowerment

Article Article scientifique Article CONCERTO app for pediatric inpatients : A qualitative exploration of user experience and empowerment eng 2025-06-30 author Rioux Hubert 872395 author Bornet Dit Vorgeat Helena 727549 author Posfay Barbe Klara 0000-0001-9464-5704 39230 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) author Ehrler Frédéric 0000-0001-9734-3242 509959 author Bajwa Nadia Masood 0000-0002-1445-4594 784253 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) e0320924 10.1371/journal.pone.0320924 40587442 1932-6203 PMC12208447 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320924 Introduction : Hospitals increasingly use health information technologies such as websites and apps to foster patient engagement. The Geneva University Hospitals developed CONCERTO, an ecosystem of patient applications for this exact purpose. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate how pediatric patients and their parents use the app CONCERTO and 2) to pinpoint functionalities that could facilitate patient empowerment and consequently alleviate the stress of children and their parents related to hospitalization. Materials and methods : We interviewed 18 children and their parents during their hospitalization at the pediatric unit from May 20th to November 15 th , 2022. Firstly, inspired by the Think-Aloud Protocol, we asked participants to complete a few specific tasks using the application. Then, we asked broader questions to better understand how CONCERTO could enhance patient empowerment. We used thematic analysis to explore the rich data set. Results : Children and their parents appreciated the features of the app. Specifically, they enjoyed creating an avatar and were grateful to have access to the interactive meal menu and the agenda. Both patients and parents would have appreciated learning about CONCERTO upon their arrival as it could have improved their hospital experience. Participants shared challenges they faced during their hospitalization and made suggestions about how more personalized content in CONCERTO could help overcome negative moments. Conclusions : CONCERTO effectively engaged and empowered patients and parents during their hospitalization. Further research is needed to evaluate the overall impact of such an app and understand the hurdles the care team faces in promoting the use of the app. Adolescent Child Child, Preschool Empowerment Female Hospitalization Humans Inpatients / psychology Male Mobile Applications Parents / psychology Patient Participation Qualitative Research Dewey 616.0757 Dewey 618 58 Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique 223 62 Département de radiologie et informatique médicale 227 false 515 Recherche en infectiologie pédiatrique et en pédiatrie générale 853 https://yareta.unige.ch/archives/b0505388-5383-4da9-804c-534809a60914 PloS one 20 6 a1f86e73-a108-4b2c-a35c-4ebd615cbc08 Article (Published version) Public journal.pone.0320924.pdf 374415 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 f7d0a063bb9eaab76b8990de25df606827d489909e9088b3c3c5b7f52a7acc28 7de38858-4fd7-4a77-90f0-f233b8bb9142 Supplemental data Public pone.0320924.s001.docx 18676 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document c80afc85a7ba2b30d5d9d570723b117aef7b52b136de260aa0b8f27bc863cebf openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de radiologie et informatique médicale

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CONCERTO app for pediatric inpatients : A qualitative exploration of user experience and empowerment	PloS one			2025	33	186

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Rioux, Hubert