Blazing new trails in digital child health: ‘Canadian parents deserve information that is trusted, practical, and accessible’

Photo supplied by James Benoit

University of Alberta post-doctoral fellow James Benoit is tapping into his training in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital technologies to create the first mobile health app targeting acute childhood illness for parents using Canadian-relevant research in children’s health.

Digital health tools, such as mobile phone apps, offer a unique opportunity for readily accessible, evidence-based information for those seeking medical advice.

Benoit — Faculty of Nursing and Department of Pediatrics Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) — says there are different needs for how digital health information is communicated, and this is especially true for the diverse population of Canadian parents.

“Apps offer a uniquely accessible, scalable, and untapped solution for giving parents access to high-quality, actionable health information about their sick child,” explains Benoit, whose 2020 Postdoctoral Fellowship is funded by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation through WCHRI.

Read the full article on the Faculty of Nursing website.