Abstract
BACKGROUND: Survivors of childhood critical illness face a higher risk of long-term psychological and social challenges. Digital solutions have the potential to mitigate these issues. Thus, the objective of this systematic literature review is to examine a range of existing digital solutions for psychosocial follow-up for children who have survived a critical illness. The research questions are structured using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) model. METHODS: A five-stage iterative process for systematic literature review in software engineering guided by Kitchenham will be used. The reporting of the review will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The abstract and indexing database Scopus will be employed using a search strategy based on the PICO model. The automatic search will be supplemented by backward citation searching. The data will be managed using the EndNote software, with records selected according to eligibility criteria based on the PICO and Study design framework. This framework will also guide the data extraction process. All included studies will be assessed for risk of bias using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and synthesized using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis framework for qualitative data and meta-analysis for quantitative data when possible. For the meta-analysis, the effect measures will be calculated using forest plots based on the DerSimonian and Laird method. Heterogeneity will be explored through meta-regression, and the robustness of the meta-analysis results will be assessed using sensitivity analysis. The risk of bias due to missing results in the synthesis will be assessed using funnel plots. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to evaluate the certainty of the evidence provided by the review. DISCUSSION: This review will provide insights into the existing digital psychosocial follow-up solutions for survivors of childhood critical illness, potentially leading to enhanced solutions and improved quality of life for this group. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022364703.