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

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 flexib ility (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 followi ng discharge into the community, further testing is warranted to explore its efficacy in preventing secondary complications.
Source: Journal of Medical Systems - Category: Information Technology Source Type: research