Interdisciplinary Online Hackathons as an Approach to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 outbreak has affected the lives of millions of people by causing a dramatic impact on many health care systems and the global economy. This devastating pandemic has brought together communities across the globe to work on this issue in an unprecedented manner. OBJECTIVE: This case study describes the steps and methods employed in the conduction of a remote online health hackathon centered on challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to deliver a clear implementation road map for other organizations to follow. METHODS: This 4-day hackathon was conducted in April 2020, based on six COVID-19-related challenges defined by frontline clinicians and researchers from various disciplines. An online survey was structured to assess: (1) individual experience satisfaction, (2) level of interprofessional skills exchange, (3) maturity of the projects realized, and (4) overall quality of the event. At the end of the event, participants were invited to take part in an online survey with 17 (+5 optional) items, including multiple-choice and open-ended questions that assessed their experience regarding the remote nature of the event and their individual project, interprofessional skills exchange, and their confidence in working on a digital health project before and after the hackathon. Mentors, who guided the participants through the event, also provided feedback to the organizers through an online survey. RESULTS: A total of 48 participants and 52 mentors based in 8 different countries participated and developed 14 projects. A total of 75 mentorship video sessions were held. Participants reported increased confidence in starting a digital health venture or a research project after successfully participating in the hackathon, and stated that they were likely to continue working on their projects. Of the participants who provided feedback, 60% (n=18) would not have started their project without this particular hackathon and indicated that the hackathon encouraged and enabled them to progress faster, for example, by building interdisciplinary teams, gaining new insights and feedback provided by their mentors, and creating a functional prototype. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into how online hackathons can contribute to solving the challenges and effects of a pandemic in several regions of the world. The online format fosters team diversity, increases cross-regional collaboration, and can be executed much faster and at lower costs compared to in-person events. Results on preparation, organization, and evaluation of this online hackathon are useful for other institutions and initiatives that are willing to introduce similar event formats in the fight against COVID-19.

A Medication Adherence App for Children With Sickle Cell Disease: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Young people with sickle cell disease (SCD) often demonstrate low medication adherence and low motivation for effectively self-managing their condition. The growing sophistication of mobile phones and their popularity among young people render them a promising platform for increasing medication adherence. However, so far, few apps targeting SCD have been developed from research with the target population and underpinned with theory and evidence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a theory-and-evidence-based medication adherence app to support children and adolescents with SCD. METHODS: The Behavior Change Wheel (BCW), a theoretically based intervention development framework, along with a review of the literature, 10 interviews with children and adolescents with SCD aged between 12 and 18 years, and consultation with experts informed app development. Thematic analysis of interviews provided relevant theoretical and evidence-based components to underpin the design and development of the app. RESULTS: Findings suggested that some patients had lapses in memory for taking their medication (capability); variation in beliefs toward the effectiveness of medication and confidence in self-managing their condition (motivation); a limited time to take medication; and barriers and enablers within the changing context of social support during the transition into adulthood (opportunity). Steps were taken to select the appropriate behavioral change components (involving behavior change techniques [BCTs] such as information on antecedents, prompts/cues; self-monitoring of the behavior; and social support) and translate them into app features designed to overcome these barriers to medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SCD have complex barriers to medication adherence necessitating the need for comprehensive models of behavior change to analyze the problem. Children and adolescents require an app that goes beyond simple medication reminders and takes into account the patient's beliefs, emotions, and environmental barriers to medication adherence.