Advancing adolescent health promotion in the digital era
Access status:
Open Access
Type
ThesisThesis type
Doctor of PhilosophyAuthor/s
Raeside, RebeccaAbstract
Background: Adolescents (10-24 years old) are calling for high-quality digital services to support their health and wellbeing. With non-communicable diseases on the rise and adolescents at risk due to emerging public health challenges, strategies to improve adolescent health are ...
See moreBackground: Adolescents (10-24 years old) are calling for high-quality digital services to support their health and wellbeing. With non-communicable diseases on the rise and adolescents at risk due to emerging public health challenges, strategies to improve adolescent health are needed. Digital strategies (e.g. text messages, websites) hold potential as they are low-cost and scalable. This thesis aims to provide evidence to advance adolescent health promotion in the digital era. Methods: Systematic review with meta-analysis (Ch2); qualitative study with adolescents (Ch3); mixed-methods co-design of Health4Me digital health intervention (DHI) with adolescents (Ch4); RCT protocol (n=390) of Health4Me versus control over 6-months (Ch5); Evaluation of digital recruitment strategies for virtual clinical trials, using Health4Me as case study (Ch6); qualitative study with stakeholders (Ch7). Results: DHIs have potential to improve adolescent health and wellbeing due to shared protective factors e.g. good nutrition, physical activity (Ch 2), and adolescents desire appealing, credible, relevant and actionable information through digital platforms (Ch 3). The co-design process supported these findings resulting in the Health4Me intervention, which is useful, acceptable and engaging to adolescents (Ch 4). A virtual clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of Health4Me to improve adolescent nutrition and physical activity is underway (Ch 5). Digital recruitment strategies (e.g. social media) were low-cost and effective, with potential to increase trial participation (Ch 6). Stakeholders supported adolescent DHIs yet had design and equity considerations to be met for successful implementation (Ch 7). Conclusion: This thesis provides evidence to support implementation of DHIs to improve adolescent health and wellbeing through shared protective factors. Future research will define priorities for intervention optimisation and an implementation trial with long-term follow-up.
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See moreBackground: Adolescents (10-24 years old) are calling for high-quality digital services to support their health and wellbeing. With non-communicable diseases on the rise and adolescents at risk due to emerging public health challenges, strategies to improve adolescent health are needed. Digital strategies (e.g. text messages, websites) hold potential as they are low-cost and scalable. This thesis aims to provide evidence to advance adolescent health promotion in the digital era. Methods: Systematic review with meta-analysis (Ch2); qualitative study with adolescents (Ch3); mixed-methods co-design of Health4Me digital health intervention (DHI) with adolescents (Ch4); RCT protocol (n=390) of Health4Me versus control over 6-months (Ch5); Evaluation of digital recruitment strategies for virtual clinical trials, using Health4Me as case study (Ch6); qualitative study with stakeholders (Ch7). Results: DHIs have potential to improve adolescent health and wellbeing due to shared protective factors e.g. good nutrition, physical activity (Ch 2), and adolescents desire appealing, credible, relevant and actionable information through digital platforms (Ch 3). The co-design process supported these findings resulting in the Health4Me intervention, which is useful, acceptable and engaging to adolescents (Ch 4). A virtual clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of Health4Me to improve adolescent nutrition and physical activity is underway (Ch 5). Digital recruitment strategies (e.g. social media) were low-cost and effective, with potential to increase trial participation (Ch 6). Stakeholders supported adolescent DHIs yet had design and equity considerations to be met for successful implementation (Ch 7). Conclusion: This thesis provides evidence to support implementation of DHIs to improve adolescent health and wellbeing through shared protective factors. Future research will define priorities for intervention optimisation and an implementation trial with long-term follow-up.
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Date
2025Rights statement
The author retains copyright of this thesis. It may only be used for the purposes of research and study. It must not be used for any other purposes and may not be transmitted or shared with others without prior permission.Faculty/School
Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead Clinical SchoolAwarding institution
The University of SydneyShare