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01-01-2020 | Tetraparesis | Mobile & Wireless Health

Patients’ Perspectives on the Usability of a Mobile App for Self-Management following Spinal Cord Injury

Authors: Gurkaran Singh, Megan MacGillivray, Patricia Mills, Jared Adams, Bonita Sawatzky, W. Ben Mortenson

Published in: Journal of Medical Systems | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

With decreasing inpatient lengths of stay following spinal cord injury (SCI), newly injured patients may be discharged into the community without the self-management skills needed to prevent secondary conditions. A mobile app was developed to facilitate self-management skills following SCI in the inpatient rehabilitation and early community settings. The objective of this study was to explore patients’ perspectives on the usability of this self-management app. A mixed-methods study design was implemented. The app was trialed at a local rehabilitation centre with 20 inpatient participants who experienced a SCI. They received mobile app training sessions throughout their inpatient rehabilitation. A thematic analysis was performed on qualitative data from post-discharge exit questionnaires and researchers’ field notes. Quantitative data (in the form of participants’ tool usage data and self-reported system usability scale scores) were collected at discharge and 3 months post-discharge. Three main themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (1) being accessible to users (i.e., being easy to adopt and compatible with assistive technologies), (2) being intuitive to navigate (i.e., incorporating a simple app layout and a system of alert notifications), and (3) offering users flexibility (i.e., providing users with control over their data). The mobile app received above average mean system usability scale scores, both at discharge (78.1/100) and 3 months post-discharge (71.6/100). Given that participants found the app acceptable for use in inpatient rehabilitation and following discharge into the community, further testing is warranted to explore its efficacy in preventing secondary complications.

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Title: Patients’ Perspectives on the Usability of a Mobile App for Self-Management following Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Gurkaran Singh
Megan MacGillivray
Patricia Mills
Jared Adams
Bonita Sawatzky
W. Ben Mortenson
Publication date: 01-01-2020
Publisher: Springer US
Keyword: Tetraparesis
Published in: Journal of Medical Systems / Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 0148-5598
Electronic ISSN: 1573-689X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-019-1487-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Patients’ Perspectives on the Usability of a Mobile App for Self-Management following Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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