Table 2.
Summary of user-preferred content, features and technology of digital platforms (Objective 2)
| Biediger-Friedman 2018 [41] | Luesse 2018 [44] | Reynolds 2018 [18] | Hull 2017 [43] | Wyse 2017 [19] | Avis 2016 [40] | Biediger-Friedman 2016 [42] | Burrows 2015 [45] | Rangelov 2015 [39] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country and digital platform | USA, A | USA, W | AUS, A | USA, A | AUS, W | CAN, A | USA, A | AUS, WA | SWI, W |
| Study design | FG, Q | FG | Q | Q | Q | FG | FG | Q | FG, Q |
| Participants | n = 48 low income mothers | n = 16 low income parents | n = 196 primary school Principals | n = 63 mothers | n = 123 primary school Principals | n = 38 HP, parents, researcher | n = 64 low income mothers | n = 75 parents | FG n = 64 Q n = 759 Parent, child |
| CONTENT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Specific and relevant for child and parents (i.e. themed, child-friendly food ideas), rather than general information (i.e. portions for different ages, recipes) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Tailored/personalised content/feedback | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Trusted information, endorsed by University or Government organisation (voice of authority) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| Information on multiple health behaviours (i.e. diet, physical activity, sedentary, BMI) | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Positive/affirming content, rather than negative content (i.e. disliked terminology about child obesity and weight management focus) | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Practical information leading to behaviour change (i.e. address barriers, motivates change, ways to improve behaviour and maintain changes) | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Suitable for low-literacy (i.e. pictures, visual content) | ✓ | ||||||||
| Images / content reflecting cultural diversity | ✓ | ||||||||
| Content that can initiate conversation with paediatrician | ✓ | ||||||||
| Budget friendly information using everyday foods | ✓ | ||||||||
| FEATURES | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Features to involve the whole family (i.e. games area/ child activities, cooking with children, sections for parents) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Ability to post questions to health professionals (i.e. via a live chat interface, contact box, video chat) or regular contact with health professionals | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Features facilitating community; Ability to connect/interact with other users including via a discussion forum, social media, Facebook chat (incl. Sharing information through social media, milestones, ideas, achievements, challenges) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Engaging and interactive components (i.e. videos, games, quizzes, activities) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Practical tools and information (i.e. Shopping tools, barcode scanner, calculators snack gallery/ideas for healthy snacks, tips to buy/eat more FV, cooking demonstration videos, cooking techniques) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Recipes (i.e. quick, cheap, child-friendly, healthy) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| Logging & tracking features for diet, exercise (Incl. tracking progress & awards for completion) | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Achievable and monitored goal setting, and with feedback | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Resources related to local area (i.e. local farmers markets) | ✓ | ||||||||
| FUNCTIONALITY | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Mixed opinions about receiving communication / reminders / push notifications / messages, including via email or SMS. Disliked by some; preferred infrequent (i.e. < 1/week) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Customisable home page and personal user accounts | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Motivational prompts (challenges, pings, reminders, celebratory signals) | ✓ | ||||||||
| Enter goals via website or smartphone – i.e. flexible access via website or phone app | ✓ | ||||||||
| Library feature with search function | ✓ | ||||||||
| DELIVERY MODE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Website, email preferred | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Mixed preference for info delivery outside of website (via text) and wanted print materials for children | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Smartphone use, frequent app usage (few times per day or week); App is suitable | ✓ | ||||||||
| Access via website and app | ✓ | ||||||||
| Cross-modal – website, emails, text message, social media | ✓ | ||||||||
| Evening preferred time to receive content | ✓ | ||||||||
| Informal program with no scheduled sessions | ✓ | ||||||||
| USEABILITY, APPEAL & BARRIERS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Self-explanatory, easy to use and helpful tools | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| Cost influential factor / low cost | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Clear instructions, descriptions and terms | ✓ | ||||||||
| Barriers: (lack of) internet access and set-up time (school canteen app), difficult to use | ✓ |
Abbreviations: A app; AUS Australia; BMI Body Mass Index; CAN Canada; FG Focus Group; FV fruit and vegetables; HP healthcare professionals; Q Questionnaire; SWI Switzerland; USA United States of America; W website; WA Website & app