New Media Awards 2007 Atos Origin

Children First for Health

http://www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk

Nominated in Education award category.

Children First for Health (CFfH) started out in late 2001 as a few child-friendly pages about hospital life on Great Ormond Street Hospital’s (GOSH) corporate website. Since then it has developed into a vast interactive and educational health resource for young people of all ages, with a section for Tots, a section for Juniors, a section for Kids, a section for Teens and health information for families. Users can read hundreds of conditions and treatments, expert replies to adolescent’s health queries plus news, features, video diaries, real stories and lots more… All information is verified in advance by child health experts at GOSH to ensure its credibility and accuracy. Children’s own experiences are also included on the site, fostering a safe, supportive environment to share experiences with peers and seek health advice from experts in confidence.

1 nomination from readers

  • GOSH should win an award for developing a unique and age-appropriate interactive resource for users of all ages that supports the diverse health needs of children in an engaging, supportive and child-friendly way.

    Supporting children in hospital:

    In the UK approximately 1.7 million children are admitted to hospital each year. CFfH exists as the only UK hospital resource that directly supports children through ‘the hospital experience’, and fills a niche in the UK market in the provision of child-centred health and hospital information that is both safe and reliable.

    Evidenced-based resource:

    Research and direct engagement with young people underpins the site’s development to ensure its continuing relevance and appeal. During 2006 over 500 children aged 7 – 18 were consulted with to gain their views of the ‘teens’ and ‘kids’ sections. In response to research feedback, CFfH has introduced several fun interactive elements including educational health quizzes, an interactive body tour and a sound-enhanced features.

    Educational peer support:

    The CFfH video diaries within the teens section provide young people with an excellent platform to educate others about living with a condition and hospital life. They can also be used as a tool by clinicians to help dispel some of the myths and fears associated with a stay in hospital.

    Championing children’s health:

    CFfH also sees ‘health’ in the broadest terms and deserves recognition for supporting the government’s public health agenda for children by developing online health campaigns and in-depth ‘healthy eating’ sections within the teens and kids sites in response to mounting concerns about childhood obesity.

    Confidential expert advice:

    During 2006, 265 clinically approved replies were posted on the site in response to health enquiries from young people with general health and hospital related concerns. These were mostly submitted to the ‘Dear Doc’ and ‘Girls only’ and ‘Boys only’ sections of the teens area of the website. The number of website monthly page visit has also been steadily increasing, rising from 40,000 in May 2006 to 60,000 in March 2007. A recent analysis of CFfH enquiries revealed that 85 percent of all messages posted anonymously to the site seeking confidential health advice came from young people aged 18 and under, supporting the need for CFfH.

    Given the established concerns over the accuracy of health information and Internet safety, GOSH deserves recognition for developing a trusted resource that young people can turn to for reassuring and credible expert health advice and peer support.

    Quotes from users:

    “If I had any health problems I would just come here” Girl, 16

    “It is an interesting website and when I am in hospital this website explains what I am having done to me in a simpler way than the doctors” Girl, 11

    “It's interesting helpful and fun.” Boy, 11

    “You can learn loads and have fun at the same time” Girl, 12

    24 May 2007