Usability of a smartphone application for pre-operative facial analysis for rhinoplasty among ENT surgeons

ABSTRACT

@#<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine the usability of a smartphone application (ImageMeter) by ENT surgeons for pre-operative photographic analysis of facial angles for rhinoplasty using the USE questionnaire. </p><p><strong>Methods:</strong></p><p><strong>Design:           </strong>Post-Test Only Non-Experimental Evaluation Study</p><p><strong>Setting:           </strong>Tertiary Private Training Hospital Outpatient Clinic</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Twenty-five (25) ENT residents and consultants</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Of 45 ENT surgeons invited, 25 ENT residents and consultants (16 males, 9 females) aged 28 to 52-years-old (mean age 36 years old) trialed the use of the Image Meter application in measuring the naso-facial, naso-frontal, and naso-labial angles of pre-selected lateral images of 10 volunteers and completed our survey.  The usability of the application was measured using the USE questionnaire, through usefulness (Cronbach ? = 0.99), ease of use (? = 0.85), ease of learning (? = 0.66), and satisfaction (?= 0.69).  On a scale of 1-7, results showed that for the ENT surgeons surveyed, the app was generally useful (M = 6.10, SD = 0.73), easy to use (M = 6.13, SD = 0.63), easy to learn (M = 6.31, SD = 0.62) and satisfactory (M = 6.06, SD = 0.7).  As for overall outcome, the ENT surgeons found the application usable (M = 6.15, SD = 0.11).</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> When applied to human facial analysis, the ImageMeter measurement of angles feature may be a usable tool for ENT surgeons in the pre-operative evaluation of patients undergoing rhinoplasty.  Based on USE questionnaire responses, it is easy to use, quick to learn, useful, and satisfactory in the preoperative measurement of facial angles. </p><p><strong>Keywords </strong>imageMeter; photography; esthetic; rhinoplasty; face; anthropometry</p>