Neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism affect about one in ten children. These conditions impact development, behavior, and wellbeing. But children with these conditions and their caregivers often can’t get the support they need. Families report difficulties accessing health-care providers and experience long wait lists to receive care.
Digital tools, such as apps and websites, are often viewed as a solution to these gaps. With a single click or a download, families might be able to access information to support their child. However, there are many digital resources available, and it’s hard to know what is and isn’t useful.
Our study evaluated freely available digital resources for child neurodevelopment and mental health to understand their quality and evidence base. We found many resources were functional and engaging. However, resources often lacked evidence for the information provided and the claimed positive impact on children and families.
Our study identified 3,435 separate resources, of which 112 (43 apps and 69 websites) met our criteria for review. These resources all claimed to provide information or supports for child neurodevelopment, mental health, or wellbeing.
We evaluated aesthetics, including whether digital tools were easy to use and navigate, stylistically consistent, with clean and appealing graphics for users. Most resources were rated as highly engaging, with strong accessibility and functionality.
We ranked resources on various features from 1 (inadequate) to 5 (excellent), with a ranking of 3 considered acceptable. These ratings looked at how credible the resource was and whether there was evidence supporting it. Despite their functionality, 37% of reviewed apps did not meet the minimum acceptable standards for information quality. This means many apps could not be recommended. Most websites fared better than apps.
We found the highest quality resources were developed in collaboration with institutions, such as health, university, or government groups. For example, the Raising Children’s Network provides resources for child health, including neurodevelopmental needs.
When assessing digital resources, parents can look for:
Factually correct. Look for where the app or resource is getting its information. Does the author have the qualifications and training to provide the information? Are they a registered health expert who is accountable to a regulatory body (such as AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency) for providing information that does not cause harm?
Consistent across multiple credible sources, such as health institutions.
Linked to supporting information. Look for reliable links to reputable institutions. Links to peer-reviewed scientific journals are often helpful as those articles will also usually describe the limitations of the research presented.
Up-to-date. Apps should be frequently updated. For websites, dates of update are usually found on the homepage or at the bottom of individual pages.
Some things to watch out for are:
Testimonials and anecdotes without evidence and scientific links to back the anecdotes up. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
No information provided about conflicts of interest. Organisations gain when you click on their links or take their advice (financial, reputation, and brand development). Think about what they gain when you use their information to help keep a balanced perspective.
Digital tools won’t usually replace a health professional, but they can support care in many different ways. They may be used to help to educate and prepare for meetings, and to collaborate with health providers. They may also be used to collect information about daily needs. Studies show reporting on sleep in children can be notoriously difficult, for example. But tracking sleep behavior with actigraphy, where movement and activity patterns are measured using a wearable device, can provide information to support clinical care.
Our findings reflect a broader problem for digital health, however. Much investment is often made in developing products to drive use, with spurious claims of health benefits. What’s needed is a system that prioritises the funding, implementation, and evaluation of tools to demonstrate benefits for families. Only then may we realise the potential of digital tools to benefit those who use them.
Q: What are the most common areas covered by digital resources?
A: The most common areas covered by digital resources were autism (17%), language and communication (14%), and ADHD (10%).
Q: What are the key features to look for in digital resources?
A: Look for factually correct information, consistency across multiple credible sources, links to supporting information, and up-to-date content.
Q: What are some red flags to watch out for?
A: Be cautious of testimonials and anecdotes without evidence, and lack of information about conflicts of interest.
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