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. 2025 Jul 11;13(14):1676.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare13141676.

Enhancing Pediatric Outpatient Medical Services Through the Implementation of the Smart Well Child Center Application

Naporn Uengarporn  1   2 , Teerapat Saengthongpitag  2 , Poonyanuch Chongjaroenjai  2 , Atcha Pongpitakdamrong  1 , Wutthipong Sriratthnarak  1 , Phonpimon Rianteerasak  1 , Kanyarat Mongkolkul  1 , Paninun Srinuchasart  1 , Panuwat Srichaisawat  1 , Nicharee Mungklang  1 , Raiwada Sanguantrakul  1 , Pattama Tongdee  3 , Wichulada Kiatmongkol  1 , Boonyanulak Sihaklang  1 , Piraporn Putrakul  1 , Niwatchai Namvichaisirikul  4 , Patrapon Saritshasombat  5
Affiliations

Enhancing Pediatric Outpatient Medical Services Through the Implementation of the Smart Well Child Center Application

Naporn Uengarporn et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Caregivers of children often encounter barriers when accessing pediatric healthcare services. These challenges highlight the need for digital innovations to improve accessibility and efficiency in pediatric outpatient care.

Objectives: This study aimed to design, implement, and pilot evaluate the Smart Well Child Center application in conjunction with enhancements to the Pediatric Outpatient Department.

Methods: This study employs a mixed-methods research approach. The application was developed following the system development life cycle (SDLC) process, and its performance was subsequently evaluated. Additionally, its effectiveness in real-world settings was assessed through a satisfaction survey completed by 85 child caregivers. The results were summarized using the mean and standard deviation, and satisfaction levels were compared using paired t-test and repeated measures ANOVA.

Results: The findings reveal that caregivers face significant challenges, including financial burdens related to travel, prolonged wait times, and difficulties accessing healthcare services. In response, the application was designed to incorporate key functionalities. Within the pre-consultation self-assessment module, caregivers can complete evaluations and receive recommendations directly through the application. Furthermore, the service procedure flowchart was restructured to seamlessly integrate these digital innovations, thereby enhancing the overall healthcare experience. The evaluation results indicate that the application achieved high performance ratings across all assessed dimensions (4.06 ± 0.77). Additionally, caregivers reported a substantial increase in satisfaction levels both immediately after implementation (4.58 ± 0.57) and one month afterward (4.59 ± 0.33).

Conclusions: Given these findings, it is recommended that the hospital fully adopt the Smart Well Child Center application to improve healthcare accessibility and reduce patient wait times. Future research should assess the long-term impact of the intervention on both caregiver outcomes and healthcare professional workflow, satisfaction, and system usability, to inform broader implementation strategies.

Keywords: Well Child Center; application development; pediatric outpatient department.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The Smart Well Child Center application features: (a) appointment scheduling; download application from app. Store and log in with personal ID, date of birth and hospital number. (b1) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; pre-doctor; self-assessments for caregivers, (b2) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; doctor note and post-doctor (Doctor’s advice), information for care givers; (c1) Line official for chatbot-based health education and telemedicine services; admins create the content for broadcasts and individual telemedicine (c2) Accessibility; QR code or line add friend link or click at SUTH smart well child care picture in the application. (c3) the main of line official; Education and chat bot for pregnancy and lactation, child development, newborn, growth and nutrition, Q&A, and return to main menu of Smart well child center application.
Figure 1
Figure 1
The Smart Well Child Center application features: (a) appointment scheduling; download application from app. Store and log in with personal ID, date of birth and hospital number. (b1) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; pre-doctor; self-assessments for caregivers, (b2) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; doctor note and post-doctor (Doctor’s advice), information for care givers; (c1) Line official for chatbot-based health education and telemedicine services; admins create the content for broadcasts and individual telemedicine (c2) Accessibility; QR code or line add friend link or click at SUTH smart well child care picture in the application. (c3) the main of line official; Education and chat bot for pregnancy and lactation, child development, newborn, growth and nutrition, Q&A, and return to main menu of Smart well child center application.
Figure 1
Figure 1
The Smart Well Child Center application features: (a) appointment scheduling; download application from app. Store and log in with personal ID, date of birth and hospital number. (b1) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; pre-doctor; self-assessments for caregivers, (b2) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; doctor note and post-doctor (Doctor’s advice), information for care givers; (c1) Line official for chatbot-based health education and telemedicine services; admins create the content for broadcasts and individual telemedicine (c2) Accessibility; QR code or line add friend link or click at SUTH smart well child care picture in the application. (c3) the main of line official; Education and chat bot for pregnancy and lactation, child development, newborn, growth and nutrition, Q&A, and return to main menu of Smart well child center application.
Figure 1
Figure 1
The Smart Well Child Center application features: (a) appointment scheduling; download application from app. Store and log in with personal ID, date of birth and hospital number. (b1) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; pre-doctor; self-assessments for caregivers, (b2) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; doctor note and post-doctor (Doctor’s advice), information for care givers; (c1) Line official for chatbot-based health education and telemedicine services; admins create the content for broadcasts and individual telemedicine (c2) Accessibility; QR code or line add friend link or click at SUTH smart well child care picture in the application. (c3) the main of line official; Education and chat bot for pregnancy and lactation, child development, newborn, growth and nutrition, Q&A, and return to main menu of Smart well child center application.
Figure 1
Figure 1
The Smart Well Child Center application features: (a) appointment scheduling; download application from app. Store and log in with personal ID, date of birth and hospital number. (b1) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; pre-doctor; self-assessments for caregivers, (b2) Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; Smart Well Child information form for appointed patents; doctor note and post-doctor (Doctor’s advice), information for care givers; (c1) Line official for chatbot-based health education and telemedicine services; admins create the content for broadcasts and individual telemedicine (c2) Accessibility; QR code or line add friend link or click at SUTH smart well child care picture in the application. (c3) the main of line official; Education and chat bot for pregnancy and lactation, child development, newborn, growth and nutrition, Q&A, and return to main menu of Smart well child center application.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flowchart of the service procedures.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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