Exploring the Use of a Length AI Algorithm to Estimate Children’s Length from Smartphone Images in a Real-World Setting: Algorithm Development and Usability Study
BackgroundLength measurement in young children younger than 18 months is important for monitoring growth and development. Accurate length measurement requires proper equipment, standardized methods, and trained personnel. In addition, length measurement requires young childre...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting |
| Online Access: | https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e59564 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846159823399288832 |
|---|---|
| author | Mei Chien Chua Matthew Hadimaja Jill Wong Sankha Subhra Mukherjee Agathe Foussat Daniel Chan Umesh Nandal Fabian Yap |
| author_facet | Mei Chien Chua Matthew Hadimaja Jill Wong Sankha Subhra Mukherjee Agathe Foussat Daniel Chan Umesh Nandal Fabian Yap |
| author_sort | Mei Chien Chua |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundLength measurement in young children younger than 18 months is important for monitoring growth and development. Accurate length measurement requires proper equipment, standardized methods, and trained personnel. In addition, length measurement requires young children’s cooperation, making it particularly challenging during infancy and toddlerhood.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a length artificial intelligence (LAI) algorithm to aid users in determining recumbent length conveniently from smartphone images and explore its performance and suitability for personal and clinical use.
MethodsThis proof-of-concept study in healthy children (aged 0-18 months) was performed at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, from November 2021 to March 2022. Smartphone images were taken by parents and investigators. Standardized length-board measurements were taken by trained investigators. Performance was evaluated by comparing the tool’s image-based length estimations with length-board measurements (bias [mean error, mean difference between measured and predicted length]; absolute error [magnitude of error]). Prediction performance was evaluated on an individual-image basis and participant-averaged basis. User experience was collected through questionnaires.
ResultsA total of 215 participants (median age 4.4, IQR 1.9-9.7 months) were included. The tool produced a length prediction for 99.4% (2211/2224) of photos analyzed. The mean absolute error was 2.47 cm for individual image predictions and 1.77 cm for participant-averaged predictions. Investigators and parents reported no difficulties in capturing the required photos for most participants (182/215, 84.7% participants and 144/200, 72% participants, respectively).
ConclusionsThe LAI algorithm is an accessible and novel way of estimating children’s length from smartphone images without the need for specialized equipment or trained personnel. The LAI algorithm’s current performance and ease of use suggest its potential for use by parents or caregivers with an accuracy approaching what is typically achieved in general clinics or community health settings. The results show that the algorithm is acceptable for use in a personal setting, serving as a proof of concept for use in clinical settings.
Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05079776; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05079776 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-77ba50fa9071468d956f33c2b6e6a49e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2561-6722 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting |
| spelling | doaj-art-77ba50fa9071468d956f33c2b6e6a49e2024-11-22T21:32:24ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Pediatrics and Parenting2561-67222024-11-017e5956410.2196/59564Exploring the Use of a Length AI Algorithm to Estimate Children’s Length from Smartphone Images in a Real-World Setting: Algorithm Development and Usability StudyMei Chien Chuahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7471-751XMatthew Hadimajahttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-6041-7143Jill Wonghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7368-8593Sankha Subhra Mukherjeehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8964-7537Agathe Foussathttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8709-4075Daniel Chanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8191-5330Umesh Nandalhttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-7883-431XFabian Yaphttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1083-7958 BackgroundLength measurement in young children younger than 18 months is important for monitoring growth and development. Accurate length measurement requires proper equipment, standardized methods, and trained personnel. In addition, length measurement requires young children’s cooperation, making it particularly challenging during infancy and toddlerhood. ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a length artificial intelligence (LAI) algorithm to aid users in determining recumbent length conveniently from smartphone images and explore its performance and suitability for personal and clinical use. MethodsThis proof-of-concept study in healthy children (aged 0-18 months) was performed at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, from November 2021 to March 2022. Smartphone images were taken by parents and investigators. Standardized length-board measurements were taken by trained investigators. Performance was evaluated by comparing the tool’s image-based length estimations with length-board measurements (bias [mean error, mean difference between measured and predicted length]; absolute error [magnitude of error]). Prediction performance was evaluated on an individual-image basis and participant-averaged basis. User experience was collected through questionnaires. ResultsA total of 215 participants (median age 4.4, IQR 1.9-9.7 months) were included. The tool produced a length prediction for 99.4% (2211/2224) of photos analyzed. The mean absolute error was 2.47 cm for individual image predictions and 1.77 cm for participant-averaged predictions. Investigators and parents reported no difficulties in capturing the required photos for most participants (182/215, 84.7% participants and 144/200, 72% participants, respectively). ConclusionsThe LAI algorithm is an accessible and novel way of estimating children’s length from smartphone images without the need for specialized equipment or trained personnel. The LAI algorithm’s current performance and ease of use suggest its potential for use by parents or caregivers with an accuracy approaching what is typically achieved in general clinics or community health settings. The results show that the algorithm is acceptable for use in a personal setting, serving as a proof of concept for use in clinical settings. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05079776; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05079776https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e59564 |
| spellingShingle | Mei Chien Chua Matthew Hadimaja Jill Wong Sankha Subhra Mukherjee Agathe Foussat Daniel Chan Umesh Nandal Fabian Yap Exploring the Use of a Length AI Algorithm to Estimate Children’s Length from Smartphone Images in a Real-World Setting: Algorithm Development and Usability Study JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting |
| title | Exploring the Use of a Length AI Algorithm to Estimate Children’s Length from Smartphone Images in a Real-World Setting: Algorithm Development and Usability Study |
| title_full | Exploring the Use of a Length AI Algorithm to Estimate Children’s Length from Smartphone Images in a Real-World Setting: Algorithm Development and Usability Study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Use of a Length AI Algorithm to Estimate Children’s Length from Smartphone Images in a Real-World Setting: Algorithm Development and Usability Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Use of a Length AI Algorithm to Estimate Children’s Length from Smartphone Images in a Real-World Setting: Algorithm Development and Usability Study |
| title_short | Exploring the Use of a Length AI Algorithm to Estimate Children’s Length from Smartphone Images in a Real-World Setting: Algorithm Development and Usability Study |
| title_sort | exploring the use of a length ai algorithm to estimate children s length from smartphone images in a real world setting algorithm development and usability study |
| url | https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e59564 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT meichienchua exploringtheuseofalengthaialgorithmtoestimatechildrenslengthfromsmartphoneimagesinarealworldsettingalgorithmdevelopmentandusabilitystudy AT matthewhadimaja exploringtheuseofalengthaialgorithmtoestimatechildrenslengthfromsmartphoneimagesinarealworldsettingalgorithmdevelopmentandusabilitystudy AT jillwong exploringtheuseofalengthaialgorithmtoestimatechildrenslengthfromsmartphoneimagesinarealworldsettingalgorithmdevelopmentandusabilitystudy AT sankhasubhramukherjee exploringtheuseofalengthaialgorithmtoestimatechildrenslengthfromsmartphoneimagesinarealworldsettingalgorithmdevelopmentandusabilitystudy AT agathefoussat exploringtheuseofalengthaialgorithmtoestimatechildrenslengthfromsmartphoneimagesinarealworldsettingalgorithmdevelopmentandusabilitystudy AT danielchan exploringtheuseofalengthaialgorithmtoestimatechildrenslengthfromsmartphoneimagesinarealworldsettingalgorithmdevelopmentandusabilitystudy AT umeshnandal exploringtheuseofalengthaialgorithmtoestimatechildrenslengthfromsmartphoneimagesinarealworldsettingalgorithmdevelopmentandusabilitystudy AT fabianyap exploringtheuseofalengthaialgorithmtoestimatechildrenslengthfromsmartphoneimagesinarealworldsettingalgorithmdevelopmentandusabilitystudy |