P058 Podsquad app: family perspectives from a tertiary paediatric sleep service

Abstract Introduction Podsquad is a play-based wellbeing app launched by Health and Wellbeing Queensland to help children and families build healthy lifestyle habits through four key themes: nutrition, movement, sleep, and wellbeing. This project assessed the engagement potential of Podsquad materials delivered via a tertiary paediatric sleep service to connect families with the app,. Methods Over eight weeks, a mixed-methods, pre-post comparative design was used within a tertiary Sleep Department. Parents, carers, and children engaged with Podsquad materials and completed structured surveys on enjoyment, app awareness, and intention to use. CHQ staff provided post-trial feedback. Results Seventeen parents/carers (mean child age 7.4 years) participated. Of these, 41% reported their child used the Podsquad materials during their visit. Notably, 82% were unfamiliar with the app before their visit. About 24% said they would download it, while 47% remained unsure. Children who used the activities rated them highly, mostly 4 or 5 out of 5 for enjoyment. Staff feedback (n = 5) showed general support for integrating Podsquad, though time constraints and unclear differentiation from existing resources were noted. Activity books were valued for engaging children and prompting healthy habit discussions. Staff also desired more targeted app content, such as advice for specific sleep conditions and key life transitions. Conclusion The Podsquad engagement activity shows promise in raising awareness and providing enjoyable content for children. However, unclear app purpose, limited staff time, and parent hesitancy highlight the need for targeted improvements, increased staff support, and ongoing feedback to enhance long-term impact.