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In 2018, we set out to create a mobile app to help children and families make healthy behaviour changes. A wide variety of health-related apps are available but many are not evidence-based, and did not involve healthcare providers, parents or children in their design. We aimed to address this gap with the Live 5-2-1-0 App by using a human-centered design approach. Engaging with end-users throughout the development process allowed us to collect their ideas and feedback and integrate these into the app’s functionality and design. A total of 12 parents, 14 children, and 18 healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, dieticians, pharmacists, and physiotherapists) participated in focus groups to inform development.
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In 2019, Version 1.1 of the Live 5-2-1-0 App was developed and tested with patients in the General Pediatrics Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital as well as with participants in the Shapedown BC programs at BC Children’s Hospital and Fraser Health. Phone interviews were conducted with participating families and feedback sessions were held with healthcare providers. This information, in conjunction with user metric data, helped to inform an upgrade of the app.
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In January 2022, the app was upgraded to Version 1.2 to improve functionality, allow for more customization, and make the user experience more fun and engaging.
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The app continues to be evaluated by the Live 5-2-1-0 Central Team on an ongoing basis to inform future upgrades.