A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Eliciting Pediatric Relaxation Apps
2.2. Procedure for Reviewing the Relaxation Apps
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Record Shares of Americans Now Own Smartphones, Have Home Broadband. Available online: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/12/evolution-of-technology/# (accessed on 18 August 2017).
- Mikolasek, M.; Berg, J.; Witt, C.M.; Barth, J. Effectiveness of mindfulness- and relaxation-based eHealth interventions for patients with medical conditions: A systematic review and synthesis. Int. J. Behav. Med. 2017. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Munster-Segev, M.; Fuerst, O.; Kaplan, S.A.; Cahn, A. Incorporation of a stress reducing mobile app in the vare of patients with type 2 diabetes: A prospective study. JMIR mHealth uHealth 2017, 5, e75. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Guided education and training via smartphones in subthreshold post-traumatic stress disorder. Cyberpsychol. Behav. Soc. Netw. 2017, 20, 470–478. [CrossRef]
- Bagnasco, A.; Pezzi, E.; Rosa, F.; Fornonil, L.; Sasso, L. Distraction techniques in children during venipuncture: An Italian experience. J. Prev. Med. Hyg. 2012, 53, 44–48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Törnqvist, E.; Månsson, Å.; Hallström, I. Children having magnetic resonance imaging. J. Child Health Care 2015, 19, 359–369. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Stoyanov, S.R.; Hides, L.; Kavanagh, D.J.; Zelenko, O.; Tjondronegoro, D.; Mani, M. Mobile app rating scale: A new tool for assessing the quality of health mobile apps. JMIR mHealth uHealth 2015, 3. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Fluid, version 3.0; David Samuel: Hong Kong, China, 2015.
- Kindoma Drawtime, version 2.7; Kindoma Inc.: Palo Alto, CA, USA, 2017.
- Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame, version 1.5.7; Sesame Workshop: New York, NY, USA, 2016.
- Breath2Relax, version 2.9; National Center for Telehealth & Technology: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, USA, 2016.
- Smiling Mind, version 3.2.6; Smiling Mind: Carlton, Australia, 2018.
- Calm, version 3.12.1; Calm: San Francisco, CA, USA, 2018.
- MyCalmBeat, version 2.4; MyBrainSolutions: San Francisco, CA, USA, 2015.
- Nature Sounds, version 3.0.2; Relaxio: Petrzalka, Slovakia, 2017.
- Headspace, version 3.2.5; Headspace, Inc.: Santa Monica, CA, USA, 2018.
- Mindshift, version 1.2.3; Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia: Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2017.
- Kindoma Storytime, version 4.7.0; Kindoma Inc.: Palo Alto, CA, USA, 2017.
- Nature Sounds, version 3.3; Dream_Studio: Dąbrówka, Poland, 2018.
- Art of Glow, version 1.0.8; Natenai Ariyatrakoo, 2015.
- Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep, version 2.10; Zodinplex: Lipniki, Poland, 2016.
- Relax Melodies, version 6.7.4; Ipnos Software: St-Bruno, QC, Canada, 2018.
- Koi Pond Lite, version 1.1.1; 3Planesoft: Vologda, Russia, 2013.
- Culbert, T. Prespectives on Technology-Assisted Relaxation Approaches to Support Mind-Body Skills Practice in Children and Teens: Clinical Experience and Commentary. Children 2017, 4, 20. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
App Role | Relevant Clinical Scenario | Examples of App Technique |
---|---|---|
Relaxation—Actively fosters entering a state of calm; focusing mind; releasing tension | 8-year-old hospitalized oncology patient struggling with insomnia limited to hospital setting 12-year-old female with sickle cell disease reporting increased “all over” body pain during month of parents’ divorce | Mindfulness Yoga/body movement Meditation, hypnosis, or visualization Body scan |
Distraction—Passively offers a diversion or recreation for stress reduction and anxiety alleviation | 8-year-old male frightened of needles in lab for blood draw 12-year-old female feeling nervous in busy waiting room while waiting to see doctor for scheduled chemotherapy | Games Soothing images Calming audio |
App Name | Description | Language Available | MARS Engagement | MARS Functionality | MARS Aesthetics | MARS Information | Suggested Age Group | App Approach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame [10] | Teaches breathing techniques while offering fun interactive games. | English/Spanish | High 4.6 | High 4.7 | High 4.7 | High 4 | Infant, Preschool | Game simulation for breathing exercises |
Breathe2Relax [11] | Animated video with demonstration of breathing technique. Customizable breathing app. | English | High 3.8 | High 4.8 | High 4 | High 4.6 | Elementary and above | Breathing exercises |
Smiling Mind [12] | Guided meditations separated by age group. | English | Medium 3 | High 4 | High 3.7 | High 3.4 | Elementary and above | Meditation |
Calm [13] | App for mindfulness, meditation, breathing, and improved sleep. | English | High 4.4 | High 4.8 | High 5 | High 3.5 | Elementary and above | Meditation and breathing exercises |
MyCalmBeat [14] | Breath training to slow breaths to six breaths per minute. | English | High 3.6 | High 4.8 | High 5 | High 4 | Elementary and above | Breathing exercises |
Nature Sounds [15] | This app offers different relaxing sounds. You can make playlists and save your favorites. | English/Spanish | Medium 3 | High 5 | High 4.7 | High 4.4 | Elementary and above | Relaxing audio sounds |
Headspace [16] | Teaches a new meditation technique each day. | English | High 4 | High 4 | High 4 | High 3.8 | Elementary and above | Meditation |
Mindshift [17] | Anxiety specific. Coping with and facing anxiety. | English | High 4.8 | High 5 | High 4.3 | High 4.5 | Adolescent and above | Meditation, yoga, and cognitive therapy |
Kindoma Drawtime [9] | Video chat for young children and their loved ones to draw together. | English | High 4.2 | High 4.3 | High 4.7 | High 4 | All | Real time video chat; relational and creative |
Kindoma Storytime [18] | Video chat plus books for young children and their loved ones to read together. | English | High 4.4 | High 4.3 | High 4.7 | High 4 | All | Real time video chat; relational |
Nature Sounds [19] | Relaxation, using audio sounds, nature images for background. | English | Medium 2.6 | High 4 | Medium 2.6 | Medium 2.3 | All | Relaxing audio sounds |
Art of Glow [20] | Create kinetic colorful art e.g., fireworks, colors glow. | English | Medium 2.8 | High 3.5 | Medium 3 | Medium 3 | All | Relaxing visual images |
Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep [21] | Nature sounds to promote relaxation and sleep. | English | Medium 2.8 | High 4 | Medium 2.3 | Medium 2.6 | All | Relaxing audio sounds |
Relax Melodies [22] | Offers 52 sounds and melodies that can be combined by user preference. Has timer and alarm. Also offers five-day meditation programs. | English/Spanish | High 3.6 | High 4.8 | High 4.7 | High 3.7 | All | Relaxing audio sounds |
Fluid [8] | Touch screen into liquid surface—makes drops/waves. | English | Medium 3 | High 4 | Medium 3.3 | Medium 2.4 | All | Relaxing visual images |
Koi Pond Lite [23] | Nature scene, water, fish, flowers—can customize. | English/Spanish | Medium 3 | High 4 | High 3.6 | Medium 2.4 | All | Relaxing visual images |
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Weekly, T.; Walker, N.; Beck, J.; Akers, S.; Weaver, M. A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients. Children 2018, 5, 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/children5020016
Weekly T, Walker N, Beck J, Akers S, Weaver M. A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients. Children. 2018; 5(2):16. https://doi.org/10.3390/children5020016
Chicago/Turabian StyleWeekly, Taelyr, Nicole Walker, Jill Beck, Sean Akers, and Meaghann Weaver. 2018. "A Review of Apps for Calming, Relaxation, and Mindfulness Interventions for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients" Children 5, no. 2: 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/children5020016