ESPE Abstracts

Background: Child growth is a dynamic process and influenced by various environmental factors. When measured at short intervals, growth of healthy children shows certain characteristic patterns, which have rarely been studied, but are of great importance for clinical purposes. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University of Potsdam.

Aim: To see whether measurements of height using photographic display (Iphones XR, manufactured by Apple) and visual analysis by Augmented Reality (AR, Quantum Interface) are practicable and user friendly.

Methods: Recruitment of families started within the personnel from University of Potsdam and then extended to befriended and close living families. The recruitment was done via email, the study started with a visit at the family home for the set-up of the measurement site, a conventional height measurement of the children and an initial training of the measurement process. Follow-up appointments were made at four, eight and twelve weeks to check the height of the children via conventional method and potentially correct the measurement process. The same person was responsible for the families from the beginning of the recruitment process until the end of the measurement period. Eight weeks after starting the recruitment, 13 out of 14 contacted families signed up for a study-period of twelve weeks, with altogether healthy 22 children aged 3 to 13 years. The height of the children was measured at daily intervals over a period of three months at their family homes.

Results: The parents recorded 1704 height measurements and meticulously documented practicability and problems when using the devices, at almost daily intervals for 3 months. 231 measurements were missing mainly due to one family that temporarily lost the iPhone during house moving, and a few holidays, mainly during Christmas time. This success was achieved by maintaining a high motivation within the families, created through a constant contact person, who was permanently available, open communication, personal training and contact during the appointments at the family homes.

Conclusion: AR can be used for height measurements at home. Measuring height by photographic display is interesting for children and parents. The very successful recruitment of children with a positive response rate of 13 out of 14 families with altogether 22 healthy children highlights the convenience and user friendliness of AR height measurements and suggests that AR is a promising tool for longitudinal growth studies.