JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Food and symptom diaries help patients and families record lifestyle habits and symptoms. Recently, electronic diaries (mHealth apps) have become common; however, few studies have assessed the benefits of food allergy (FA)-related mHealth technologies.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore parents' experiences of preschool children with FA transitioning from a paper diary (P-diary) to an E-diary.

Methods:

This quasi-experimental study employed a single group pretest–posttest design to evaluate the feasibility of using an E-diary. Parents of preschool children diagnosed with FA by a board-certified allergist were recruited. To assess parents' views on transitioning to E-diaries from P-diaries, the authors compared their usefulness using data from semi-structured interviews conducted after 6 months of E-diary use.

Results:

Five parents took part in the study. The problems with P-diaries and effects and outcomes of E-diaries as understood by parents of preschool children with FA were categorized as 52 codes, which were grouped into 19 subcategories and 6 categories. Categories are indicated in bold italic text. Parents of preschool children with FA reported I. Difficulties with using a P-diary, II. Stress related to information-sharing with doctors, and III. Difficulties with making disease management habitual as problems with the P-diary, IV. Ease of using the E-diary as an effect of the E-diary, and V. More efficient information-sharing with doctors and VI. Improved adherence as effects of the E-diary.

Conclusions:

E-diaries will contribute to solving the problems of P-diaries and may prove to be a useful communication tool between parents and physicians for disease management.