Usabilidade de um aplicativo móvel de apoio aos profissionaisde saúde para cálculos de doses de vancomicina / Usability of a mobile application supporting healthprofessionals on vancomycin dosing calculation

O aplicativo móvel CalcVAN foi desenvolvido para auxiliar os profissionais de saúde para otimizar as doses de vancomicina em pacientes hospitalizados. Porém, é imprescindível avaliar a sua usabilidade antes de disponibilizá-lo para prática clínica. Assim, o objetivo do estudo é avaliar a usabilidade do aplicativo móvel na perspectiva dos profissionais de saúde. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, de avaliação heurística da usabilidade de um aplicativo móvel. Foram convidados profissionais da área de saúde com expertise no tema de gerenciamento de antimicrobianos e vancomicina. O instrumento validado Smartphone Usability questionnaiRE (SURE) foi utilizado para mensuração da usabilidade por meio de um questionário on-line. Vinte e um especialistas participaram do estudo, com média de idade de 32,6 anos, sendo a maioria de mulheres (n = 14, 66,7%), profissionais farmacêuticos (n = 13, 61,9%), com pós-graduação lato sensu (n = 10, 47,6%), que trabalhavam em hospitais públicos ou privados (n = 15, 71,4%) e com média de experiência em 9,7 anos. Com base na interpretação dos resultados obtidos pelo instrumento SURE, a média de usabilidade geral do CalcVAN foi de 83 pontos, com escore menor de 78 e maior de 90 pontos. O teste de usabilidade foi enquadrado nos dois últimos níveis, 70 e 80, onde os profissionais de saúde passaram a concordar fortemente e totalmente, indicando que o aplicativo móvel apresenta uma usabilidade satisfatória. O CalcVAN atingiu uma usabilidade satisfatória e atende as necessidades e exigências dos profissionais de saúde, mostrando--se eficiente para realizar as funções propostas.

The CalcVAN app was developed to assist healthcare professionals in optimizing vancomycin doses for hospitalized patients. However, the usability test before making it available for clinical practice is essential. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate the usability of the app from the perspective of health professionals. A descriptive study, a heuristic evaluation of the usability of a mobile application was conducted. Healthcare professionals with expertise in antimicrobial management and vancomycin were invited to participate. The validated Smartphone Usability questionnaiRE (SURE) was used to measure usability through an online questionnaire. Twenty-one experts participated in the study, with a mean age of 32.6 years, mostly of them women (n = 14, 66.7%), pharmacists (n = 13, 61.9%), with postgraduate education (n = 10, 47.6%), working in private or public hospitals (n = 15, 71.4%), and a mean experience of 9.7 years. Overall usability score for CalcVAN was 83 points, ranging from a minimum of 78 to a maximum of 90 points. The usability test registered within the last two levels, 70 and 80, with users expressing strongly and fully agreed, indicating that the app demonstrates satisfactory usability. CalcVAN achieved satisfactory usability, fulfilling the needs and requirements of health professionals, proving to be efficient in performing the intended functions.

Usability testing of a conceptual model through retrospective cross-case analysis.

Qualitative conceptual models are commonly used in the scientific literature to make complex phenomena easier to understand. However, the effectiveness and usability of conceptual models to serve as analytical tools is rarely explored and tested, and there is a lack of guidelines for such analyses. This paper adapts and combines the methods of usability testing and cross-case analysis to describe a systematic protocol to facilitate the qualitative evaluation of conceptual models. Usability testing is an established method for identifying problems or shortcomings within a product and for assessing different dimensions of product usability: suitability, accessibility, relevance, and integrity. Cross-case analysis, on the other hand, is a qualitative research method for systematically comparing information from individual case studies and identifying commonalities and patterns that apply across cases. Taken together, these methodological approaches provide a structured way of retrospectively applying a conceptual model to existing literature and thereby evaluating its effectiveness in meeting its intended purpose.•We show how researchers can prepare, conduct, and synthesise the results of a usability test of a conceptual model.•We provide recommendations for the practical implementation of each step.•We outline the benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations that researchers should be aware of.

Usability test for a cane-combined weight support feedback device.

BACKGROUND: Traditional canes have no special functions besides weight support, and their long-term use may cause secondary damage to the musculoskeletal system and gait deviation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the usability of the cane-combined weight support feedback device (CWSFD) to identify areas requiring improvement and the current level of satisfaction. METHODS: As a collet-type device, the CWSFD has a structure allowing attachment and detachment at the lower end of a traditional mono cane. To assess the level of satisfaction and areas of improvement regarding the novel CWSFD, a usability test was conducted on 10 physical therapists with ⩾ 20 years of clinical experience. The usability test comprised a satisfaction survey questionnaire to determine the level of satisfaction, and an in-depth interview to identify the points of improvement. RESULTS: The usability test demonstrated a moderate or higher level of satisfaction in all tested items, and the in-depth interview revealed that the device should have a lower weight with a greater diversity of feedback. CONCLUSIONS: We anticipate that by implementing the respective improvements, a novel device will be developed in the future; for its commercialization, studies to verify the clinical effectiveness are warranted.

A Novel CPAP Device With an Integrated Oxygen Concentrator for Low Resource Countries: In Vitro Validation and Usability Test in Field.

Goal: To develop and validatea novel neonatal non-invasive respiratory support device prototype designed to operate in low-resource settings. Methods: The device integrates a blower-based ventilator and a portable oxygen concentrator. A novel control algorithm was designed to achieve the desired fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) while minimizing power consumption. The accuracy of the delivered FiO2 and the device power consumption were evaluated in vitro, and a formative usability test was conducted in a rural hospital in Uganda. Results: The agreement between the set and delivered FiO2 was high (limit of agreement:-5.6 ÷ 3.8%). For FiO2 below 60%, the control algorithm reduced the power drain by 50%. The device was also appreciated by intended users. Conclusion: The prototype proved effective in delivering oxygen-enriched continuous positive airway pressure in the absence of compressed air and oxygen, holding promise for a sustainable and effective implementation of neonatal respiratory support in low-resource settings.

Development and usability evaluation of a culturally adapted stroke prevention educational programme on WeChat apps.

Background: The persistently high incidence of stroke in many nations is suggestive of an area for further improvement on existing strategies of primary stroke prevention. Although the era of digitalisation has led to the increasing use of mobile applications (apps) in healthcare, more studies are needed to determine the efficacy of apps in producing the desired health outcomes across different nations and cultures. Objective: To describe the development and evaluate the usability of a mobile app in delivering a culturally adapted stroke prevention educational programme for middle-aged adults in the Republic of China. Methods: The educational programme was developed in three phases. In Phase 1, the process involved analysing requirements and designing structured modules. Phase 2 concentrated on expert consultation and technical development to deliver the educational programme. Phase 3 included a usability trial and refinement of the educational program based on trial results. Results: Educational content was derived from the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Stroke and the Dietary Guidelines for Residents. The WeChat platform was used to deliver the educational programme. Participants expressed satisfaction with the content, interface, and functions of the apps, indicating that the apps have good usability. Conclusions: The development process of the Educational Programme was designed to maximise the culturally appropriate, and impact of lifestyle changes and stroke prevention. An app-based educational programme that has demonstrated good usability is a vital factor prior to deploying it in an intervention to evaluate its effects on health outcomes.

The gamification and development of a chatbot to promote oral self-care by adopting behavior change wheel for Taiwanese children.

Background: Oral health is closely related to general health and quality of life. School-aged children are at a critical stage for developing their self-care ability in oral health. Digital interventions can encourage and facilitate oral self-care in children. Objective: This study aims to present the development of an educational chatbot for school-aged children to address their oral self-care and evaluate its usability. Methods: The development and evaluation of the chatbot for oral self-care consisted of four stages: target behavior analysis, intervention design, system development, and the chatbot evaluation. The target behavior analysis identified barriers to children's engagement in oral self-care based on dentists' clinical observations; hence, the requirements for achieving the desired behavior were categorized according to the capability-opportunity-motivation behavior model. Interventional functions were created following the behavior change wheel. A menu-driven chatbot was created and evaluated for usability as well as likeability. Results: The barriers and requirements for achieving good behavior in school-aged children's oral self-care were identified by the dental professionals. Intervention strategy incorporated specific functions enriched with gamification features to support school-aged children in developing their abilities for engaging in oral self-care. The intervention functions consist of capability establishment, motivation enhancement, and opportunity creation, which were designed to support children in their oral self-care practices. The designed chatbot was piloted with a convenient sample of 30 school-aged children and their accompanying parents at the pediatric dental clinic. The results indicated good usability, with a mean usability score of 79.91, and high likeability with a mean score of 4.32 out of 5 for the designed chatbot. Conclusions: The educational chatbot incorporated a combination of clinical dentistry practice and guidelines, aiming to promote oral self-care behavior in school-aged children. The designed chatbot achieved high scores for its usability and user likability.

Design and evaluation of a web-based electronic health record for amblyopia.

Introduction: Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a type of visual impairment in which the eyesight is not complete, even with the use of glasses. For the treatment of this disease, accurate and continuous examinations are needed. Nowadays, patient-centered care, by relying on web-based electronic records for amblyopia, has the potential to reduce treatment costs, increase the quality of care, and improve the safety and effectiveness of treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to design and evaluate an Electronic Health Record (EHR) for patients with amblyopia. Methods: The present study is applied developmental research. Using a Morgan table as a sampling tool, a straightforward random sampling technique selected 150 records from 1,500 records that were free of flaws. The design of the electronic version proceeded in a cascading manner so that after the design of each part, it was presented to the amblyopia experts, and if approved, the next part was designed. To design this EHR, the C# programming language and MySQL database were used. A system evaluation was performed by entering and recording patient information. For this purpose, the standard Questionnaire of User Interaction Satisfaction (QUIS), consisting of 18 questions, was used. Results: According to the amblyopia EHR data elements, the data of physician and patient, examinations, website members, and members' roles were determined. After defining the fields and classes that explain the tables, the EHR was designed. The usability evaluation of the system showed that the mean selection of very good and good options by the users of EHRs was over 90%, indicating the patients' acceptance of web-based EHRs. Conclusion: The design of an EHR for amblyopia is an effective step toward integrating and improving the information management of these patients. It will also enable the storage and retrieval of patients' information to reduce and facilitate the control of amblyopia complications.

Detectability of use errors in summative usability tests of medical devices: Impact of the test environment.

The regulations on summative usability evaluations of medical devices (MDs) emphasize that the test environment must have sufficient ecological validity for generalization to real-life use. Here, we examined the influence of environmental fidelity (a component of ecological validity) on the detectability of MD use errors. A total of 140 participants participated in a summative usability evaluation of an anaphylactic shock auto-injector device under either a high-fidelity condition or a condition acceptable from the manufacturer's perspective, lower-fidelity condition. The numbers of errors detected in each condition were compared by applying descriptive statistics and logistic and Poisson multivariate regressions. We found that the level of fidelity did not influence the overall number of use errors detected but did influence the detection of certain use errors. To optimize the test environment and increase the detection of use errors, each environmental feature's role in the test task should first be examined.

A dynamic approach for visualizing and exploring concept hierarchies from textbooks.

In this study, we propose a visualization technique to explore and visualize concept hierarchies generated from a textbook in the legal domain. Through a human-centered design process, we developed a tool that allows users to effectively navigate through and explore complex hierarchical concepts in three kinds of traversal techniques: top-down, middle-out, and bottom-up. Our concept hierarchies offer an overview over a given domain, with increasing level of detail toward the bottom of the hierarchy which is consisting of entities. In the legal use case we considered, the concepts were adapted from section headings in a legal textbook, whereas references to law or legal cases inside the textbook became entities. The design of this tool is refined following various steps such as gathering user needs, pain points of an existing visualization, prototyping, testing, and refining. The resulting interface offers users several key features such as dynamic search and filter, explorable concept nodes, and a preview of leaf nodes at every stage. A high-fidelity prototype was created to test our theory and design. To test our concept, we used the System Usability Scale as a way to measure the prototype's usability, a task-based survey to asses the tool's ability in assisting users in gathering information and interacting with the prototype, and finally mouse tracking to understand user interaction patterns. Along with this, we gathered audio and video footage of users when participating in the study. This footage also helped us in getting feedback when the survey responses required further information. The data collected provided valuable insights to set the directions for extending this study. As a result, we have accounted for varying hierarchy depths, longer text spans than only one to two words in the elements of the hierarchy, searchability, and exploration of the hierarchies. At the same time, we aimed for minimizing visual clutter and cognitive overload. We show that existing approaches are not suitable to visualize the type of data which we support with our visualization.

Usability study of SOSteniamoci: An internet-based intervention platform to support informal caregivers in Italy.

Background: Providing informal care can be experienced as stressful and lead to caregiver burden. Internet-based interventions, a specific form of eHealth, have proven to be a good option to support informal caregivers. SOSteniamoci, an internet-based intervention already tested in Lithuania, was translated and adapted for Italian caregivers. Objective: As many novel eHealth solutions have been rejected by end-users due to usability problems, we aimed to evaluate the usability of the adapted platform, using a computer-based prototype. Methods: The following methods and metrics were applied: 1. task analysis, using audio and video recordings that included three usability metrics: task completion rate, frequency of errors, and frequency of help requests; 2. the system usability scale (SUS); and 3. a semi-structured interview to collect additional data about the system's design and overall satisfaction. Results: Ten informal caregivers (60% female; age M = 47.8, SD = 15.21) provided insights and suggestions for increasing the usability of the platform. The platform was considered satisfactory, with a mean score on the SUS of 75 (SD = 13.07) out of 100. The task analysis measurements highlighted difficulties in how to log in to the platform, understanding what the intervention is about, and texting the therapist. The same difficulties were also mentioned during the post-experience interview. Thus, improvements were subsequently made to enhance users' experience when navigating the platform. Finally, the platform overall was found to be intuitive and friendly, and the contents were appreciated. Conclusion: To maintain participants' engagement and prevent drop-out, it is crucial to test the usability of internet-based interventions. Even though the platform proved to be user-friendly, intuitive and easy to use, several enhancements were implemented based on participants' feedback. Thus, the usability of internet-based interventions should be tested, and end-users must be involved in the development process of such solutions.

Usability of the novel ankle training equipment with spring resistance-based plantar press exercises in the standing position: A focus on chronic stroke patients with hemiplegic gait.

BACKGROUND: To improve gait disability in patients with chronic stroke, ankle muscle strengthening and calf muscle stretching exercises are required. However, currently available ankle training equipment limit ankle exercises based on the position. Recently developed ankle training equipment enables spring resistance-based plantar press exercises to be performed in the standing position with weight support. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a usability test of the ankle training equipment in the standing position by stroke patients with hemiplegic gait and verify its effects on ankle movements. METHODS: The ankle training equipment was applied to five patients with chronic stroke and hemiplegic gait. In the standing position, the patients performed forefoot and rearfoot press exercises in the affected side with a day's interval at 20 repetitions maximum (RM). During the exercises, surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) of the leg muscles. The System Usability Scale (SUS) was used to assess the ankle training equipment. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate the differences in muscle activity between the two exercises. RESULTS: Forefoot and rearfoot press exercises increased the %MVIC in the biceps femoris. Additionally, the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius activity was significantly different between the two exercises. The SUS was 78.75% (SD 12.7). CONCLUSION: The usability test of the passive-control foot press trainer (PFPT) that with improvements in the structure and functions for convenience, it could be commercialized. PFPT could be an alternative to the ankle rehabilitation robot that necessitates a sitting position.

Enhancing Prostate Cancer Diagnosis with a Novel Artificial Intelligence-Based Web Application: Synergizing Deep Learning Models, Multimodal Data, and Insights from Usability Study with Pathologists.

Prostate cancer remains a significant cause of male cancer mortality in the United States, with an estimated 288,300 new cases in 2023. Accurate grading of prostate cancer is crucial for ascertaining disease severity and shaping treatment strategies. Modern deep learning techniques show promise in grading biopsies, but there is a gap in integrating these advances into clinical practice. Our web platform tackles this challenge by integrating human expertise with AI-driven grading, incorporating diverse data sources. We gathered feedback from four pathologists and one medical practitioner to assess usability and real-world alignment through a survey and the NASA TLX Usability Test. Notably, 60% of users found it easy to navigate, rating it 5.5 out of 7 for ease of understanding. Users appreciated self-explanatory information in popup tabs. For ease of use, all users favored the detailed summary tab, rating it 6.5 out of 7. While 80% felt patient demographics beyond age were unnecessary, high-resolution biopsy images were deemed vital. Acceptability was high, with all users willing to adopt the app, and some believed it could reduce workload. The NASA TLX Usability Test indicated a low-moderate perceived workload, suggesting room for improved explanations and data visualization.

Testing a Digital Health App for Patients With Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease: Mixed Methods Usability Study.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is increasingly common and associated with serious and costly health consequences. Cessation of drinking can improve ALD morbidity and mortality; however, support for cessation is not routinely offered to those diagnosed with ALD, and continued drinking or resumption of drinking after diagnosis is common. Mobile health (mHealth) has the potential to offer convenient and scalable support for alcohol cessation to those diagnosed with ALD, but mHealth interventions for alcohol cessation have not been designed for or evaluated in a population with ALD. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand how individuals with ALD would perceive and use an mHealth tool for alcohol cessation and to gather their perspectives on potential refinements to the tool that would allow it to better meet their needs. METHODS: We interviewed 11 individuals who attended clinic visits related to their ALD to elicit their needs related to support for alcohol cessation and views on how mHealth could be applied. After completing initial interviews (pre), participants were provided with access to an mHealth app designed for alcohol cessation, which they used for 1 month. Afterward, they were interviewed again (post) to give feedback on their experiences, including aspects of the app that met their needs and potential refinements. We applied a mixed methods approach, including a qualitative analysis to identify major themes from the interview transcripts and descriptive analyses of use of the app over 1 month. RESULTS: First, we found that a diagnosis of ALD is perceived as a motivator to quit drinking but that patients had difficulty processing the overwhelming amount of information about ALD they received and finding resources for cessation of alcohol use. Second, we found that the app was perceived as usable and useful for supporting drinking recovery, with patients responding favorably to the self-tracking and motivational components of the app. Finally, patients identified areas in which the app could be adapted to meet the needs of patients with ALD, such as providing information on the medical implications of an ALD diagnosis and how to care for their liver as well as connecting individuals with ALD to one another via a peer-to-peer support forum. Rates of app use were high and sustained across the entire study, with participants using the app a little more than half the days during the study on average and with 100% (11/11) of participants logging in each week. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the need for convenient access to resources for alcohol cessation after ALD diagnosis and support the potential of an mHealth approach to integrate recovery support into care for ALD. Our findings also highlight the ways the alcohol cessation app should be modified to address ALD-specific concerns.

Usability-Tests of Mechanical Ventilators: A Systematic Review.

The usability of ventilators is critical for patient safety. This systematic review shows the methods used in usability studies on ventilators, if those are similar in methodology. Furthermore, the usability tasks are compared to the requirements for manufactures during approval. Results show that the methodology and procedure of the studies are similar, but only cover part of the primary operating functions from their corresponding ISO Norm. Therefore optimisation of aspects of the study design, e.g., scope of tested scenarios, is possible.

Optimal Usability Test Procedure Generation for Medical Devices.

Medical device usability testing offers many benefits, including finding medical device usage errors and providing safety to users. As usability testing becomes mandatory for medical devices, manufacturers are increasing the cost burden. In order to perform a high-quality usability test, it is important to implement a usability test procedure, but guidelines for this are lacking. In this paper, we propose a method to systematically design and implement a usability test procedure. We propose methods to reduce test time-costs and apply them to implement the final procedure. Next, by applying the proposed method to sinus surgical navigation system, it is shown that the total time was reduced by 21% compared to the usability summative test procedure previously used in the same system.

A high-fidelity prototype of a sterile information system for the perioperative area: OR-Pad.

PURPOSE: Supporting the surgeon during surgery is one of the main goals of intelligent ORs. The OR-Pad project aims to optimize the information flow within the perioperative area. A shared information space should enable appropriate preparation and provision of relevant information at any time before, during, and after surgery. METHODS: Based on previous work on an interaction concept and system architecture for the sterile OR-Pad system, we designed a user interface for mobile and intraoperative (stationary) use, focusing on the most important functionalities like clear information provision to reduce information overload. The concepts were transferred into a high-fidelity prototype for demonstration purposes. The prototype was evaluated from different perspectives, including a usability study. RESULTS: The prototype's central element is a timeline displaying all available case information chronologically, like radiological images, labor findings, or notes. This information space can be adapted for individual purposes (e.g., highlighting a tumor, filtering for own material). With the mobile and intraoperative mode of the system, relevant information can be added, preselected, viewed, and extended during the perioperative process. Overall, the evaluation showed good results and confirmed the vision of the information system. CONCLUSION: The high-fidelity prototype of the information system OR-Pad focuses on supporting the surgeon via a timeline making all available case information accessible before, during, and after surgery. The information space can be personalized to enable targeted support. Further development is reasonable to optimize the approach and address missing or insufficient aspects, like the holding arm and sterility concept or new desired features.

Maternapro®: percepção sobre saúde bucal e usabilidade de aplicativo sobre pré-natal odontológico no serviço público / Maternapro®: perception about oral health and usability of an application about dental prenatal care in public services / Maternapro®: percepción sobre salud bucodental y usabilidad de una aplicación sobre cuidados dentales prenatales en servicios públicos

Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a percepção de gestantes sobre saúde bucal e testar a usabilidade do MaternaPrO® (aplicativo móvel) desenvolvido como recurso motivacional para adesão de gestantes ao comparecimento do pré-natal odontológico, reforçando sua importância e desmistificando mitos e crendices relacionados ao período gestacional. Trata-se de um estudo observacional descritivo quali-quantitativo com aplicação de questionário de percepção e instrumento de avaliação de usabilidade. Para a avaliação de usabilidade do aplicativo MaternaPro® foi utilizado o instrumento SURE aplicado em dois grupos de participantes (Experts e Gestantes). Para a análise de percepção foi aplicado um questionário sobre a percepção do pré-natal odontológico para o grupo Gestantes, em dois momentos distintos. A pesquisa quali- quantitativa exploratória, foi estruturada em três fases distintas: a) revisão integrativa da literatura com ênfase em testes de usabilidade de aplicativos móveis na área da saúde; b) aplicação do instrumento de mensuração da usabilidade e; c) aplicação de questionário "percepção sobre pré-natal odontológico" de gestantes em diferentes estágios gestacionais. A pesquisa identificou um total de 813 artigos e, após o processo de seleção, 142 artigos foram selecionados de acordo com os critérios de inclusão, sendo que, 07 publicações enquadraram-se como revisão da literatura, 03 artigos de revisão de escopo, 02 artigos de revisão sistemática e 01 artigo sendo revisão integrativa. Os resultados do questionário SURE obtidos a partir da avaliação da usabilidade pelos profissionais de TI e pelos dentistas apresentaram média de usabilidade geral de 91 e, desta forma, a usabilidade foi enquadrada, no nível 80, isto é, concordam totalmente com usabilidade do aplicativo MaternaPrO®. Os resultados do questionário SURE obtidos a partir da avaliação da usabilidade pelas gestantes, apresentaram média de usabilidade geral de 79 e, desta forma, a usabilidade foi enquadrada no nível 70, isto é, concordam com usabilidade do aplicativo MaternaPrO®. O aplicativo MaternaPrO® contemplou seus objetivos educacionais de apoiar a mulher no seu período gestacional, possibilitando-a nas tomadas de decisões conscientes e orientadas, em relação ao acompanhamento odontológico e educação em saúde da gestante e do bebê. Observou-se a melhora significativa na percepção das gestantes, em relação a saúde bucal, gestação e pré-natal odontológico. O MaternaPrO® apresentou média de usabilidade geral de 85 e, desta forma, a usabilidade foi enquadrada, pelos profissionais de TI, dentistas e gestantes no nível 80, isto é, concordam totalmente com a usabilidade do aplicativo.

This study aimed to analyze the perception of pregnant women about oral health and test the usability of MaternaPrO® (a mobile application) developed as a motivational resource for pregnant women to adhere to dental prenatal care, reinforcing its importance and demystifying myths and beliefs related to the gestational period. It is a descriptive qualitative-quantitative observational study with the application of a perception questionnaire and a usability assessment tool. The SURE instrument was used to evaluate the usability of the MaternaPrO® application in two participant groups (Experts and Pregnant women). For perception analysis, a questionnaire about prenatal dental care perception was applied to the Pregnant women group at two different times. The exploratory qualitative-quantitative research was structured in three distinct phases: a) integrative literature review with emphasis on usability testing of mobile applications in the health area; b) application of the usability measurement instrument; and c) application of the "perception of prenatal dental care" questionnaire to pregnant women at different gestational stages. The research identified a total of 813 articles, and after the selection process, 142 articles were selected according to inclusion criteria, with 07 publications being literature reviews, 03 being scope reviews, 02 being systematic reviews, and 01 being an integrative review. The SURE questionnaire results obtained from the usability evaluation by IT professionals and dentists showed an overall usability average of 91, and thus the usability was classified at level 80, i.e., fully agreeing with the usability of the MaternaPrO® application. The SURE questionnaire results obtained from the usability evaluation by pregnant women showed an overall usability average of 79, and thus the usability was classified at level 70, i.e., agreeing with the usability of the MaternaPrO® application. The MaternaPrO® application achieved its educational objectives of supporting women during their gestational period, enabling them to make conscious and informed decisions regarding dental care and health education for the pregnant woman and baby. There was a significant improvement in pregnant women's perception regarding oral health, pregnancy, and prenatal dental care. The MaternaPrO® application showed an overall usability average of 85, and thus the usability was fully agreed upon by IT professionals, dentists, and pregnant women at level 80.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la percepción de las mujeres em- barazadas sobre la salud bucodental y probar la usabilidad de MaternaPrO® (una aplica- ción móvil) desarrollada como recurso motivacional para que las mujeres embarazadas se adhieran al control prenatal dental, reforzando su importancia y desmitificando mitos y creencias relacionados con el período gestacional. Se trata de un estudio observacional descriptivo cualitativo-cuantitativo con la aplicación de un cuestionario de percepción y una herramienta de evaluación de la usabilidad. Se utilizó el instrumento SURE para eva- luar la usabilidad de la aplicación MaternaPrO® en dos grupos de participantes (Expertos y Embarazadas). Para el análisis de la percepción, se aplicó un cuestionario sobre la per- cepción de la atención odontológica prenatal al grupo de mujeres embarazadas en dos momentos diferentes. La investigación exploratoria cualitativa-cuantitativa se estructuró en tres fases diferenciadas: a) revisión bibliográfica integradora con énfasis en pruebas de usabilidad de aplicaciones móviles en el área de la salud; b) aplicación del instrumento de medición de usabilidad; y c) aplicación del cuestionario de "percepción de la atención odontológica prenatal" a mujeres embarazadas en diferentes etapas gestacionales. La in- vestigación identificó un total de 813 artículos, y después del proceso de selección, 142 artículos fueron seleccionados de acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión, siendo 07 publi- caciones revisiones bibliográficas, 03 revisiones de alcance, 02 revisiones sistemáticas y 01 revisión integradora. Los resultados del cuestionario SURE obtenidos de la evaluación de usabilidad por profesionales de TI y dentistas mostraron una media global de usabili- dad de 91, por lo que la usabilidad se clasificó en el nivel 80, es decir, totalmente de acuerdo con la usabilidad de la aplicación MaternaPrO®. Los resultados del cuestionario SURE obtenidos de la evaluación de usabilidad por parte de las mujeres embarazadas mostraron una media global de usabilidad de 79, por lo que la usabilidad se clasificó en el nivel 70, es decir, de acuerdo con la usabilidad de la aplicación MaternaPrO®. La apli- cación MaternaPrO® alcanzó sus objetivos educativos de apoyar a las mujeres durante su periodo gestacional, permitiéndoles tomar decisiones conscientes e informadas en re- lación con el cuidado dental y la educación sanitaria de la embarazada y el bebé. Se pro- dujo una mejora significativa en la percepción de las embarazadas con respecto a la salud bucodental, el embarazo y la atención dental prenatal. La aplicación MaternaPrO® mos- tró un promedio general de usabilidad de 85, por lo que los profesionales de TI, los den- tistas y las mujeres embarazadas estuvieron totalmente de acuerdo con la usabilidad en el nivel 80.

Development and usability test of a symptom management WeChat Mini Program for parents of children with cancer.

Objective: Symptom management is a persistent challenge in pediatric oncology. The WeChat Mini Program, a small smartphone application that functions within WeChat, has the potential to assist in symptom management. This study aimed to develop a symptom management WeChat Mini Program for parents and children with cancer aged 5-17 years old and evaluate its usability. Methods: Based on the semi-structured interviews with parents of children with cancer, experts in pediatric oncology and informatics and a survey of children's symptom experience, multidisciplinary research group meetings were conducted to confirm the structure and main contents of the Mini Program. The iterative method was used to develop the Mini Program. A mixed-method study was conducted to test its usability with 10 pairs of parents and children with cancer. The quantitative data were collected through the Poststudy System Usability Questionnaire, and qualitative data were collected from interviews. Results: The Mini Program "Child SMILE" was developed, which includes a symptom assessment and management module, an information and emotional support module, a communication module among the parents and medical professionals, and a personal information module. Most users reported that the Mini Program is user-friendly, with satisfaction scores on the Poststudy System Usability Questionnaire ranging from 5.2 to 5.7 (out of 7.0) in four dimensions. In qualitative interviews, most participants thought the Mini Program was convenient, easy to use, and helpful. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the Mini Program satisfies the needs of parents of children with cancer and has the potential to benefit the symptom management of children with cancer.

Evaluation of mHealth Apps for Diverse, Low-Income Patient Populations: Framework Development and Application Study.

BACKGROUND: The use of mobile technology or smartphones has grown exponentially in the United States, allowing more individuals than ever internet access. This access has been especially critical to households earning less than US $30,000, the majority of whom indicate that smartphones are their main source of internet access. The increasing ubiquity of smartphones and virtual care promises to offset some of the health disparities that cut through the United States. However, disparities cannot be addressed if the medical information offered though smartphones is not accessible or reliable. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to create a framework to review the strengths and weaknesses of mobile Health (mHealth) apps for diverse, low-income populations. METHODS: Focusing on smoking cessation, diabetes management, and medication adherence as models of disease management, we describe the process for selecting, evaluating, and obtaining patient feedback on mHealth apps. RESULTS: The top 2 scoring apps in each category were QuitNow! and Smoke Free-Quit Smoking Now for smoking cessation, Glucosio and MyNetDiary for diabetes management, and Medisafe and MyMeds for medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this framework will prove useful for future mHealth app development, and clinicians and patient advisory groups in connecting culturally, educationally, and socioeconomically appropriate mHealth apps with low-income, diverse communities and thus work to bridge health disparities.

Assessing the Visualization-Based Decision Support System for Environmental Impact Assessments.

Even though environmental impact assessments (EIAs) have been an important tool for environmental decision-making, most EIAs are published as a mix of text and tabular data that is not easily accessible to or understandable for the public. In this paper, we present a decision support system (DSS) that supports the decision-making of stakeholders in the EIA stage. The system was designed to improve the public's understanding of stakeholders before and after a construction project by providing visualization of key environmental elements. We recruited 107 participants to test the usability of the system and examined the impacts of individual differences between the participants on their perceptions of the system, including their environmental expertise and computer self-efficacy. The results showed that the proposed system had high usability, especially for users with high computational efficacy and environment expertise. The system could thus help to improve the communication between the public and experts during public hearings and enhance the environmental literacy of the public.