Xploro ®
Empowering young patients
with information
The problem
This is Issy.
When she was 13 she was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma. Now, aged 20, she’s cancer-free, but when she was ill nobody told her what to expect and that made her feel scared, anxious and alone.
But this problem isn’t unique to Issy.
Across the board provision of information preparing children for hospitalisation is poor. The few resources that hospitals do have, such as books and leaflets, become worn out quickly and are costly to replace and there aren’t enough play staff to spend time with children, preparing them for procedures.
But research shows that if you provide patients with information prior to treatment you reduce their stress and anxiety and improve their clinical outcomes.
Dom Raban, Xploro co-founder and Issy’s dad, decided that it was about time we give our children the information they need and deserve and so his company have developed Xploro®...
The solution
Xploro® is an award winning and clinically validated health information platform that uses augmented reality, gameplay and artificial intelligence to deliver health information to young patients, in a way which makes them feel empowered, engaged and informed, whilst having fun at the same time.
By putting health information in the hands of children, using language they understand and interaction paradigms that they are familiar with, we aim to reduce their stress and anxiety and improve their clinical outcomes. By reducing the fear associated with procedures we aim to reduce repeat procedures and shorten treatment times. Finally, by improving child health literacy we provide the foundations for a generation of patients better able to self-manage their healthcare.
Features
- Patent-pending avatar chatbot that can answer questions, understand sentiment, tell jokes and detect the wildest of children’s misspellings!
- 3D augmented reality interactive models of hospital environments, equipment and processes
- Customisable avatars of all the medical professionals a child will encounter
- Multiplayer treatment-themed games
- Mood diary and daily calendar of events
- Parent app that manages permissions and calendar events
- Clinicians management system allowing customisation of app content, addition of calendar events, detailed analytics and monitoring of patient feedback
- Gather patient feedback through structured questionnaires (PROMs and PREMs)
- Rated 88% on ORCHA, the world's leading healthcare app review platform
- UK-based public sector organisations can purchase through the GCloud 12 Government procurement framework
Customisable Avatar Guide
Benefits
- Reduces procedural anxiety* which can lead to better clinical outcomes
- Improves health literacy and knowledge about procedures*
- Improves patient satisfaction*
- Reduces costs as a result of reduction in repeat procedures and shorter treatment times
- Improves 'Did Not Attend' rates through in-app reminders
- Allows clinicians to monitor patient mood in relation to clinical events
- Allows clinicians to remotely record patient-reported outcomes
* A recent clinical study, published in the Journal of Medical Research, demonstrated that patients using Xploro® showed a statistically significant reduction in procedural anxiety as well as statistically significant increases in patient satisfaction and knowledge about procedures.
User-centred design
At the heart of Xploro are the children and young people that use it.
Prototypes are always tested by patients, parents and clinicians to support continuous improvement and to ensure a robust and meaningful experience.
The jewel in our user-centred design crown is our Expert Advisory Board, made up of twelve 9 to 17 years olds
The group includes youngsters from across the UK, each with differing experiences of hospitals. Some have never needed to go to hospital, some have been through extensive treatments and have since been given the all clear, whilst others are still undergoing treatment.
We meet regularly to share feedback and ideas for new features. Whether it be a new game idea, designing an emoji set or simply telling us that we’ve got it wrong, their input is central to the ongoing development of Xploro and we rely on them to do what kids do best, speak their mind.
Testimonials
I am incredibly excited by Xploro. Its initial focus on young people is important as they can be particularly difficult to engage. That noted, it’s vital to recognise that very few projects hold such potential to appeal to every patient group, from young child to geriatric, able to disabled and educationally challenged to academic. I anticipate it will improve compliance, outcomes, safety and patient satisfaction.
How we engage and inform children and young people about health deserves much greater attention than it currently receives. We have to work with children and young people to develop these resources. I’m excited by Xploro and look forward to offering ongoing support and to championing the work as it develops.
Just wanted to quickly say that my daughter is loving the app. She said she feels that it's making the process less scary for her and she's loved showing it off to family members. We have noticed that in the few days since using it she has been openly talking about going into hospital, which before this she wouldn't do.
Partners
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
The largest children’s hospital in the UK is our testbed for evaluation of the app. App content is validated by clinical teams at the hospital.
Edge Hill University
Clinical evaluation of the app is being led by Dr Lucy Bray, Professor of Child Health Literacy. Research results will be ready for publication in Summer 2019.
Sutherland Labs
Our user research partners conduct regular testing of prototypes with patients, parents and clinicians.
We’re starting with children with cancer…
… but we’re building a health information platform for
any patient, any age, any condition, anywhere
Get in touch…
To find out more about Xploro® or to arrange a demonstration please get in touch using the form below.
If you would like to know how this data is handled you can view our privacy statement hereIn the news
Awards
The team
Xploro®has been developed by Corporation Pop, one of the UK’s leading mobile app development teams.
Advisors
Clinical consultant:
Dr. Peter-Marc Fortune
Associate Medical Director &
Chief Clinical Informatics Officer,
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Expert Advisory Board:
Morven Armstrong, 14
Evan Bray, 12
Luke Campbell, 12
Charlotte Jennings,18
Zionne Renee Masih Johnson, 14
Joey Kidd, 10
Dexter Kidd, 8
Maisie Mills, 10
Reuben Mills, 12
Emmie Narayn, 11
Emma Neal, 11
Arlo Stanley, 9
And their parents.
Patient advocate:
Mark Duman MRPharmS
Founder of Patient Information Forum