OBJECTIVES: Introducing the use of VARK modalities alongside ISPOR guidance to aid the collection of patient experience data in the pediatric population.

METHODS: The VARK learning preferences purports that people tend to prefer different modalities for communication and learning at different times in their lives. The four modality preferences are; visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Different modalities can be learned throughout the life-span, however, children initially tend to prefer one learning style over another. Child interviews were conducted across various studies utilizing VARK principals and the ISPOR guidance for pediatric studies. The results of these studies, along with interviewer experience and feedback from experienced qualitative researchers were discussed and reviewed to generate feedback on best practices for interviewing children.

RESULTS: When collecting qualitative data from children, the use of VARK principals increases child engagement, quality of the data, and allows them to communicate in their preferred style. Consideration of the available data indicated that children with a visual preference may prefer to develop a drawing or collage relating to their experience of their condition for discussion during the interview. In comparison, children who prefer reading/writing could be asked to draw the impact of their condition or presented with a list of words relating to their condition and asked to put them in a certain order or categories. The child with a kinesthetic preference may prefer creating a model of their symptoms using Play-Doh or other materials; whereas children with an auditory preference may prefer to discuss their condition.

CONCLUSIONS: When collecting patient experience data in the pediatric population, VARK preference modalities could be incorporated alongside the ISPOR guidance for pediatric studies during protocol development. Doing so appears to increase data quality, engagement, and communication during child interviews, and could improve the use of pediatric data in studies.