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BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing development of different smartphone apps in the health care domain, most of these apps lack proper evaluation. In fact, with the rapid development of smartphones and wireless communication infrastructure, many health care systems around the world are using these apps to provide health services for people without sufficient scientific efforts to design, develop, and evaluate them. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the usability of CanSelfMan, a self-management app that provides access to reliable information to improve communication between health care providers and children with cancer and their parents/caregivers, facilitating remote monitoring and promoting medication adherence. METHODS: We performed debugging and compatibility tests in a simulated environment to identify possible errors. Then, at the end of the 3-week period of using the app, children with cancer and their parents/caregivers filled out the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) to evaluate the usability of the CanSelfMan app and their level of user satisfaction. RESULTS: During the 3 weeks of CanSelfMan use, 270 cases of symptom evaluation and 194 questions were recorded in the system by children and their parents/caregivers and answered by oncologists. After the end of the 3 weeks, 44 users completed the standard UEQ user experience questionnaire. According to the children's evaluations, attractiveness (mean 1.956, SD 0.547) and efficiency (mean 1.934, SD 0.499) achieved the best mean results compared with novelty (mean 1.711, SD 0.481). Parents/caregivers rated efficiency at a mean of 1.880 (SD 0.316) and attractiveness at a mean of 1.853 (SD 0.331). The lowest mean score was reported for novelty (mean 1.670, SD 0.225). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we describe the evaluation process of a self-management system to support children with cancer and their families. Based on the feedback and scores obtained from the usability evaluation, it seems that the children and their parents find CanSelfMan to be an interesting and practical idea to provide reliable and updated information on cancer and help them manage the complications of this disease.
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BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers. Patients with gastric cancer experience disabilities and complications that lead to reduced quality of life. Empowering these patients by providing them with information and self-management skills can help reduce side effects and improve their quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the user requirements for developing a mobile-based self-management app to support patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency distribution reports using IBM SPSS Statistics software. RESULTS: All of the data elements and functional requirements except "data recording times" and "weight changes in graphs" were identified as essential by clinical experts and patients. Among the functional requirements required in a gastric cancer self-management app, the capabilities related to informing, announcing warnings, and reminders are included. In the demographic data section, most patients (14/26, 53%) did not comment on the importance of recording data such as name, surname, and place of residence, and the demographic data section was met with less agreement from patients than clinicians. CONCLUSIONS: Applying the requirements mentioned in this study can improve the self-management of patients with gastric cancer. Such apps can play an important role in empowering patients and improving their quality of life. However, the apps need to be designed and implemented to see how they can meet users' requirements.
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BACKGROUND: Determining the standard data elements for developing an integrated information system is of crucial importance in order to better design electronic health records system at the national level. The aim of the present study was to determine the minimum data elements of asthma for the electronic health record in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was an applied research that was conducted in a descriptive method. Minimum dataset (MDS) of asthma in selected countries was assessed through print and electronic literature. Data on MDS of asthma in selected countries were analyzed using comparative tables and determining the common and differentiating features of the dataset. At the validation phase of the model, frequency distribution (number and percentage), median, and quark distortion index of the questions in the questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS and Minitab software. RESULTS: MDS of asthma was categorized into management and clinical classes. Management class had 3 subclasses (demographic, clearance, and insurance-financial) and 12 data elements, whereas clinical class had 4 subclasses (risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and asthma education to the patient) and 22 data elements. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that some of the essential data elements in the MDS of other countries are needed by organizations or care providers in the country that were not collected. Therefore, a complete list of the minimum data elements set for the health electronic record was created.
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INTRODUCTION: Asthma and allergies in addition to demanding social costs-the economic community, one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world is considered. In the last decade in Iran despite the positive developments in many areas of health records into categories based asthma and allergy international standards, less attention has been paid. Improving the quality of care system, identifying groups at risk of asthma and allergies, control plan, prevention and assessment of asthma and allergies due to possible that when allergy and asthma information registration system and create the complete and timely data to be collected. Considering now an efficient national system of registration allergy and asthma that can meet the health needs can no need for this study was felt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study, study-the comparison was done in the years 2010-2011. In this research, using library resources, information networks and consultations with experts inside the country gathered on the main axis and branches of national registration system, asthma and allergies in American countries-Australia and England were examined and given economic conditions, cultural and geographical themes for our records system, the axes were proposed objectives, structure, data elements, standard registration process? Data and classification systems are given. RESULTS: The proposed model for national registration system, asthma and allergies in the country is shown in a table. In this table the proposed system based on six main "targets", "structure", "data elements", "data collection process," "registration criteria" and "classification system" is designed. CONCLUSION: The results and recommendations to the International Institute for asthma and allergies, reduction in low registers, and can increase the quality of the proposed model, including advantages in comparison with the existing system of the country noted.
