Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37856183›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2023

Design, Development, and Evaluation of an mHealth App for Reporting of Side Effects During Cytostatic Treatment: Usability Test and Interview Study.

Emil Aale Hægermark, Nina Kongshaug, Sunil Xavier Raj, Eva Hofsli, Arild Faxvaag

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Emil Aale Hægermark *Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5369-6150
Nina KongshaugDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Scienes, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0860-3538
Sunil Xavier RajCancer Clinic, St Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5583-2623
Eva HofsliDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Scienes, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9856-4880
Arild FaxvaagDepartment of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6510-7306
Norwegian University of Science and Technology · NOSt Olav's University Hospital · NO

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUsing mobile health (mHealth) interventions such as smartphone apps to deliver health services is an opportunity to engage patients more actively in their own treatment. Usability tests allow for the evaluation of a service by testing it out on the relevant users before implementation in clinical practice.

objectiveThe objective of this study was to design, develop, and evaluate the user interface of an app that would aid patients with cancer in reporting a more comprehensive summary of their side effects.

methodsThe usability test was conducted by exposing patients with cancer to a prototype of an mHealth app that allowed for reporting of side effects from a chemotherapy regimen. After solving a set of 13 tasks, the test participants completed a system usability scale questionnaire and were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide. The interviews were later transcribed and analyzed.

resultsThe 10 test participants had a mean age of 56.5 (SD 7.11) years. The mean total task completion time for the task-solving session was 240.15 (SD 166.78) seconds. The calculated system usability scale score was 92.5. Most participants solved most of the tasks without any major issues. A minority reported having difficulties using apps on smartphones in general. One patient never achieved a meaningful interaction with our app prototype. Most of those who engaged with the app approved of features that calmed them down, made them more empowered, and put them in control. They preferred to report on side effects in a detailed and concise manner. App features that provided specific advice could provoke both fear and rational action.

conclusionsThe user tests uncovered design flaws that allowed for subsequent refining of an app that has the potential to enhance the safety of patients undergoing home-based chemotherapy. However, a refined version of the app is unlikely to be of value to all patients. Some might not be able to use apps on smartphones in general, or their ability to use apps is impaired because of their disease. This finding should have implications for health care providers' overall design of their follow-up service as the service must allow for all the patients to receive safe treatment whether they can use an mHealth app or not.

Indexed as

cancercytostatic treatmentinterventionmHealthmobile appmobile healthmobile phoneside effectssmartphoneusabilityusability testinguseruser-centered designuser interface

Identifiers

PMID37856183
PMCPMC10623228
OpenAlexW4387764418

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.