Abstract
BackgroundGait disorders are common among older adults. With an increase in the use of technology among older adults, a mobile phone app provides a solution for older adults to self-monitor their gait quality in daily life.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a gait-monitoring mobile phone app (Pocket Gait) and evaluate its acceptability and usability among potential older users.MethodsThe app was developed to allow older adults to track their gait quality, including step frequency, acceleration root mean square (RMS), step regularity, step symmetry, and step variability. We recruited a total of 148 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older from two cities in China: Beijing and Chongqing. They walked in three ways (single task, dual task, and fast walking) using a smartphone with the gait-monitoring app installed and completed an acceptability and usability survey after the walk test. User acceptability was measured by a questionnaire including four quantitative measures: perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, ease of learning, and intention to use. Usability was measured using the System Usability Scale (SUS). Interviews were conducted with participants to collect open-ended feedback questions.ResultsTask type had a significant effect on all gait parameters, namely, step frequency, RMS, step variability, step regularity, and step symmetry (all P values <.001). Age had a significant effect on step frequency (P=.01), and region had a significant effect on step regularity (P=.04). The acceptability of the gait-monitoring app was positive among older adults. Participants identified the usability of the system with an overall score of 59.7 (SD 10.7) out of 100. Older adults from Beijing scored significantly higher SUS compared with older adults from Chongqing (P<.001). The age of older adults was significantly associated with their SUS score (P=.048). Older adults identified improvements such as a larger font size, inclusion of reference values for gait parameters, and inclusion of heart rate and blood pressure monitoring.ConclusionsThis mobile phone app is a health management tool for older adults to self-manage their gait quality and prevent adverse outcomes. In the future, it will be important to take factors such as age and region into consideration while designing a mobile phone–based gait assessment app. The feedback of the participants would help to design more elderly-friendly products.
Highlights
With an increasing aging population, 11.9% of the Chinese population was 65 years and older in 2018 [1]
Gait speed is a well-known indicator of functional ability [3]; stride-to-stride variability might be a predictor of a future fall [4] or frailty https://mhealth.jmir.org/2020/5/e14453
Gait assessment results revealed that task type had a significant effect on all gait parameters, namely, step frequency, root mean square (RMS), step variability, step regularity, and step symmetry
Summary
Background With an increasing aging population, 11.9% of the Chinese population was 65 years and older in 2018 [1]. 28% to 35% of older adults aged 65 years and older fall each year [2]. Gait assessment is useful for older adults because they are vulnerable to frailty or fall risk. Gait speed is a well-known indicator of functional ability [3]; stride-to-stride variability might be a predictor of a future fall [4] or frailty https://mhealth.jmir.org/2020/5/e14453 XSLFO RenderX. Detection of the decline of gait parameters may help older adults adopt timely interventions, such as gait training, to maintain health and improve their quality of life. With an increase in the use of technology among older adults, a mobile phone app provides a solution for older adults to self-monitor their gait quality in daily life
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