Student and Faculty Publications
Publication Date
4-1-2024
Journal
JAMIA Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The use of interactive mobile health (mHealth) applications to monitor patient-reported postoperative pain outcomes is an emerging area in dentistry that requires further exploration. This study aimed to evaluate and improve the usability of an existing mHealth application.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The usability of the application was assessed iteratively using a 3-phase approach, including a rapid cognitive walkthrough (Phase I), lab-based usability testing (Phase II), and
RESULTS: The rapid cognitive walkthrough identified 23 potential issues that could negatively impact user experience, with the majority classified as system issues. The lab-based usability testing yielded 141 usability issues.; 43% encountered by patients and 57% by dentists. Usability problems encountered during pilot testing included undelivered messages due to mobile phone carrier and service-related issues, errors in patients' phone number data entry, and problems in provider training.
DISCUSSION: Through collaborative and iterative work with the vendor, usability issues were addressed before launching a trial to assess its efficacy.
CONCLUSION: The usability of the mHealth application for postoperative dental pain was remarkably improved by the iterative analysis and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Included in
Biomedical Informatics Commons, Dentistry Commons, Health Information Technology Commons
Comments
Supplementary Materials
PMID: 38476372