Employing a Phased, Interdisciplinary Approach Across Healthcare and School Settings: mHealth Adaptations for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder At-Risk of Experiencing Obesity.
Caroline Emerson, Caitlin Koob, Kerry Sease and 1 others
PMID 39754653WHAT IT FOUND
For youth with autism, participants said an obesity-prevention chatbot app should offer simple choices, safety prompts, visuals, and rewards, while fitting family life.
They valued apps for teletherapy and home programs, but worried about cost, time, and parent burden.
Key findings
01Participants described autism as varying in reading, cognition, motor skills, social skills, and sensory preferences, and said app design needs flexibility.
02Therapists saw value in mHealth for teletherapy and home exercise programs, while some participants saw cost and parent strain as barriers.
03Participants recommended reducing caregiver burden by giving home tasks that are simple, fit daily routines, and have already been completed in therapy.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This was a small interview study about a chatbot concept, not a trial of WE CHAT or an obesity outcome. WE CHAT was not adapted or tested, so these are suggestions from participants, not evidence of effectiveness. Participants were recruited from one healthcare system and one region of South Carolina, and many had mHealth familiarity, so views may not apply elsewhere. The first-phase discussion was not audio recorded, only summarized by staff, so details may be limited. School therapists reported less collaboration and shorter sessions, so recommendations may be harder to use in schools.
Declared interests
Clemson University is named as funder. A physician who led WE CHAT development helped identify Phase 2 participants, and the supplied text lists no author disclosures.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that WE CHAT or these app adaptations reduce obesity or improve function. The study only asked parents, clinicians, and individuals with autism about a chatbot concept; it did not test the app or measure patient outcomes.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →