Abstract
This paper reports on an ongoing interdisciplinary research and development project with the overall purpose of developing a mobile app and platform for monitoring fever episodes, symptoms, and infections in children with periodic fever. In this paper, the focus is on the co-design process, in which a prototype for registering and visualizing fever episodes has been developed, tested and evaluated for usability and functionality. The study takes a socio-technical approach and uses co-design as a method. This means that users and developers collaborate in the design process, an approach that has proven effective in creating user-friendly and relevant digital solutions in healthcare. The app was tested for usability, functionality, and clinical viability through a combination of AttrakDiff and System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaires, along with qualitative feedback. Findings show that participants found the app easy to use, and that symptom registration and visualization, facilitated by the digital platform and mobile app, were viewed as useful and important from several perspectives. Guardians found the app valuable for managing recurring fever episodes and planning daily life better, which may positively in!uence compliance, help increase control, and reduce stress. From the healthcare professionals’ perspective, digital symptom recording can provide a clear picture of disease progression and contribute to an earlier and more accurate diagnosis, as well as support the follow-up and evaluation of treatments. A shared understanding of symptoms and disease progression can also enhance communication among guardians, their children, and healthcare professionals, thereby increasing participation and improving the child's care. From a research perspective, continuous registration of symptoms enables improved data collection, and multidisciplinary collaboration has the potential to enable synergies between clinical work, development, innovation, and research.