Crowdsourcing for adolescent health: development and evaluation of a tool to collect data on the state and determinants of adolescent physical health

While growing up through adolescence and going on to get work we develop behaviours, like how much we exercise or eat, that impact on the rest of our lives. Research is needed to help us understand what behaviours change our health for better or worse, and what influences those behaviours. Some behaviours are easier to measure, and we even have technology in our phones that can count how many steps we do each day.

However, other behaviours are more difficult to measure, they might be embarrassing or harder for people to explain because they relate to feelings. We think it's important that people can record things at the time they happen (rather trying to recall them later). Health researchers need to be able to collect several types of data from people as they go about their lives, and it has been recommended that smartphone apps might be a way to do this.

Apps have been used in research to help us understand different diseases like COVID but in apps like these, people have a reason to pick up the phone and use it - they get a very clear benefit from it. So, we need to explore the reasons a teenager would use a health app. We have already heard from young people taking part in our own research or other studies that they use apps to track physical activity, diet, and periods, for example.

Parents have also told us that tracking health is a good use of a phone for teenagers. We want to know if people would be motivated to use the app to report when something makes their health better or worse, or changes their behaviour. Our idea is that by sharing information with other young people about places or situations that improve or reduce their health, young people will become citizen scientists.

The information collected becoming evidence to share with people who make decisions like head teachers or politicians, so that the places or situations improve, and everyone can be healthier.

We will also make sure that the app is easy and quick to use, only asking appropriate questions. The app will need to keep the information private and safely share the data with researchers. During the project we will develop these different features of the app with young people and parents to make sure it fits with what people want and would use, being fun where appropriate but also serious and reassuring where required - we understand that health data is important to people and we want people to feel comfortable using this app.

We will start by working with small groups of young people from different places and backgrounds to make sure the app works for lots of people. Eventually we will run big tests of the app with schools and communities. Events will be organised for lots of young people to share their thoughts and ideas, called hack-a-thons and design jams, helping to design the app.

Young people will also decide on a name for the app. The app will then be used in research studies to help us learn how to help improve health. The young people themselves will also be scientists able to review and use their own data to improve their health and wellbeing, and make where they live, study and work healthier places.