Uncovering Core Qualities of Digital Interventions for Health Promotion: Perspectives From People With Intellectual Disabilities, Relatives, and Professionals.
Ellinor Nilsson, Stefan Johansson, Kristin Alfredsson Ågren and 1 others
PMID 41262071WHAT IT FOUND
Participants with intellectual disabilities said digital health tools should focus on social connection and confidence, not just information.
They wanted apps that help them meet friends and succeed at manageable tasks, but emphasized that these tools cannot work without supportive staff and reliable internet access.
Key findings
01Participants identified three core qualities for digital health interventions: integrating a sense of belonging, building confidence through involvement, and ensuring structural coherence.
02Social connection was described as a primary motivator for health behaviors, with exercise often seen as a means to socialize rather than a goal in itself.
03Participants stressed that digital interventions cannot replace in-person support and require staff with health knowledge and digital competence to be effective.
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
All participants with intellectual disabilities were active users of digital devices, potentially excluding perspectives from those with lower digital literacy or no access. All participating relatives and professionals were female, which may limit the diversity of perspectives on support roles. The study could not account for non-participation because contact persons were not required to report on recruitment failures. The sample size for relatives was small (5 people), which may limit the transferability of their specific viewpoints. Participants were from Sweden, so findings may not apply to health systems without similar social support structures (like the LSS Act).
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by The Promobilia Foundation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these core qualities as evidence that digital interventions improve health outcomes. This study explored preferences for future design; it did not test an intervention or measure health changes.
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 →