Prototype to Assess Growth Development and Nutritional in Early Childhood

Abstract

This applied research aimed to design, develop, and evaluate a prototype innovation for assessing growth and nutritional status in preschool children. The evaluation encompassed efficiency, effectiveness, user satisfaction, and feedback. The research was proceeded in four phases: (1) Design and Development of the Innovation: this involved creating the device base, main body, ultrasonic sensor module for height measurement, and a complementary mobile application capable of analyzing and interpreting data into growth charts. (2) Evaluation of the Innovation’s Efficiency: this phase included calibrating the measurement instruments against standard tools and assessing the device’s accuracy. The prototype demonstrated high validity and no statistically significant difference when compared to standard weighing scales and stadiometers. (3) Evaluation of Effectiveness and User Satisfaction: a total of 50 childcare providers and parents, along with 25 preschool children volunteers, were recruited from preschools around Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing satisfaction in three aspects: installation process and ease of understanding, usability, and perceived benefits and satisfaction. The results revealed that users reported the highest level of satisfaction across all aspects, with the highest mean score for perceived benefits and satisfaction (Mean=4.94, SD=0.25), followed by installation process and ease of understanding (Mean=4.53, SD=0.66), and usability (Mean=4.47, SD=0.55). (4) Collection of User Suggestions and Feedback: through interviews, key recommendations were identified, including developing a more user-friendly manual, enhancing the performance of both the device system and the application, and establishing an online user support system. The findings reflect that the developed innovation is practical, efficient, and responsive to user needs, thereby promoting systematic and continuous monitoring of nutritional status in preschool children. This is beneficial for improving children’s long-term quality of life.