The app was built with a deep understanding of the challenges you face while living with CHD. We've focused on addressing:
Perspectives
Addressing the need for a positive approach that focuses on well-being.
Loneliness
Building a sense of community and connection among users.
Feasibility
Creating an efficient and manageable intervention.
Accessibility
Providing easy, timely access to concise information.
Credibility
Ensuring that information comes from trusted sources.
Scalability
Making the app adaptable to a wide range of users.
EmpowerMyCH Advisory
Board Member
As a CHD patient, I am happy to be part of EmpowerMyCH because this digital tool is a helpful resource that will support CHD patients in their healthcare journey. My hope for patients within EmpowerMyCH is that it will enable them to confidently navigate adult healthcare systems through its guidance, resources, and information. Empowering patients to engage in their care, which I feel contributes to a sense of thriving with CHD.
Karla Deal
Tetralogy of Fallot Patient • Florida
The EmpowerMyCH app is grounded in scientific methods that help people make positive health changes. Here's what guides our approach:
Behavior Change Wheel or BCW
This model guides the design of interventions to support behavior change.
- Defining the health problem in behavioral terms.
- Understanding the factors that influence behavior Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation, known as COM-B.
- Selecting intervention functions such as education, enablement, persuasion, and training.
Digital Health Equity
The app incorporates principles of health literacy, readability, and ease of use to ensure accessibility for all users, including those with diverse backgrounds and identities.
Diffusion of Innovation
The design considers how the app will be adopted by different users and involves key people in its development and promotion.
Behavioral Economics
The app uses nudges and defaults to guide user behavior and facilitate decision-making.
EmpowerMyCH is hosted on the Eureka Research Platform, which offers several advantages:
User-Centered Approach
The app's design and content are continuously improved based on user feedback.
Streamlined Processes
The platform simplifies participant recruitment and engagement through electronic consent and other tools.
Security
The platform meets high standards for privacy and security of electronic health records.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Eureka is designed for both web and mobile use for Apple and Android devices and can be translated into multiple languages.
Engagement Features
The platform supports features like app-based notifications, text messages, and emails to encourage user engagement.
EmpowerMyCH uses a variety of strategies to keep users involved:
Regular Activities
Participants receive new activities every two months, including surveys, educational exhibits, and opportunities to connect with other data.
"Pokes"
These are varied messages sent periodically to encourage interaction and provide updates.
Digital Medical Passport
The app includes a feature that allows users to store their important health information.
Community Events
The platform provides access to community events to reduce isolation and increase social support, a key factor in CHD patient well-being.
Peer Connections
Designed to increase patient-to-patient interactions, addressing the research-identified need for shared experiences in chronic condition management.
Mobile-Friendly Design
The app is optimized for use on smartphones, which are widely used across different demographics.
Accessibility Features
Content is designed with readability in mind, and future versions plan to support non-English speakers.
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