Development of a Malaysian Web-based Application to Support Caregivers of Children with Amino Acid Metabolism Disorders (AAMDs)

Abstract

Individualised dietary intervention is paramount in the treatment of disorders of amino acid metabolism (AAMDs). However, dietary monitoring was perceived as tedious as it required minute weighting of the food items and a complex calculation process. The present study aims to elaborate on the development and validation of MyProteinGuide™ a web-based application among caregivers of children with AAMDs. Methods: The overall content of the MyProteinGuide^TM was shaped by the results obtained during needs assessment and supported by an evidence-based approach which consists of self-monitoring features and informative educational content. Content validation was then carried out among 9 healthcare professionals. Results: The overall CVI of the module was 0.983, which was deemed validated for content. Suggestions for improvements of the MyProteinGuide^TM in terms of content features include having a wide variety of menu and recipes, using different household measurements as units in food dairy and specific labelled growth chart. In term of language and GUI, using a uniform colour scheme and standardization of language were suggested. Conclusion: Improvements to the application according to healthcare experts’ comments should be addressed to optimize the usage of MyProteinGuide^TM among caregivers of AAMDs patients.