The launch of CBIT In Hand
We have some exciting news to share with the launch of the Child Brain Injury Trust “In Hand” application which took place at the CBIT online conference on 21 April 2021.
The team at the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT) had a vision that would allow every parent, carer and professional to access support and information following an acquired brain injury and at three key stages.
- When the ABI happens
- Whilst receiving treatment at home
- When back at home post treatment
Here comes the statistics
- Over 500,000 Children & Young people (C&YP) attend A&E every year with a head injury (NICE Guidelines, 2017)
- 40,000 C&YP acquire a brain injury every year (CBIT, 2008)
- Information & support about acquired brain injury can be inconsistent
- CBIT’s Early Intervention Model supports 1,400 families per year …… so they need to do more!
Background
Back in 2018 CBIT asked how do they reach the 500,000 children and young people? How do they scale up their work? And how can they make better use of technology?
During the last 12 months CBIT have been working closely with Alder Hey Children’s and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals and they have been involved with the concept and development from the outset. A number of families were consulted during the development and became involved with the product development. Thanks to the investment of Leigh Day this enabled CBIT to engage a developer to take the concept to the prototype. The plan was accelerated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as the need for virtual support became immediate. After an initial trial CBIT approached the National Lottery emergency fund and they supported CBIT to bring “In Hand” to market.
The launch
CBIT In Hand is the first ever digital health intervention for families affected by ABI. The application provides immediate tailored information and support IN HAND through a mobile device. The mobile app will allow CBIT to create greater social impact for families and professionals.
As demand for CBIT’s services increases CBIT In Hand will serve to alleviate the demand on support model by creating self-access to information when it is needed at A&E departments, trauma wards and in the community. Immediate support is available with the vast amount of information resources from CBIT – this allows the tailor-made information portal to cover every stage of the family’s journey.
Extensive user testing has taken place with remote tests conducted with users across the country which has included parents of children with ABI, Clinicians from the hospitals at Alder Hey and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals.
Feedback
This is just some of the feedback received during testing.
“If only this app existed when we were going through this, it would have really helped us know what to expect and help us feel like we were being heard”. Parent during testing
“I think having all this information in the app is really good as it helps parents think about things they may have never thought about. For example, needing legal advice”. Clinician during testing.
Key features
Launching a first ‘minimum viable product’ with the features that have been identified as key for families and CBIT. A update to the app in future will add greater value for families and will include:-
- A personal contacts section
- A market place
- Sponsored content
- In-app chat to expert support
- Clinicians and professionals area
- More personalisation
- Push notification
To find out more about CBIT In Hand please visit CBIT In Hand – Child Brain Injury Trust
Adrian Hawley 22.04.21