Analysis of requirements for developing a mobile device‐based medicines management application for people who are blind and visually impaired

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPeople with visual impairments are often faced with challenges in the process of medicines management and use. Mobile device‐based applications can be a potential solution in reducing these challenges.ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyse the requirements for developing a mobile device‐based medicines management application for people who are blind and visually impaired.MethodsA questionnaire was designed to examine the requirements for developing a medicines management application for people who were blind and visually impaired. The questionnaire was sent to 2081 people who are blind or visually impaired, and their instructors. Among them, 146 people (125 with visual impairments and 21 instructors) completed the questionnaire. SPSS 23 software was used for statistical analysis.ResultsNinety percent of people with visual impairments and 75% of instructors were willing to assist in application design. Out of 44 data elements, 35 were considered important for designing and creating mobile device‐based medicines management applications. ‘Providing education information about drugs in the form of audio files’ (4.71 ± 0.56), ‘Ability to update software’ (4.71 ± 0.56) and ‘Ability to search for physician’s addresses’ (4.71 ± 0.46) were rated highest, in terms of required ‘Application capabilities’, by the study cohort based on average Likert scale scores (1 = very low, 2 = low, 3 = moderate, 4 = high, 5 = very high).ConclusionThis study provides a set of data elements that people who are blind and visually impaired, and their instructors, have identified as being important to the development and design of mobile device‐based medicines management applications. Developers can use the identified data elements to help in the design and implementation of their medicines management applications or electronic systems. Applications and electronic systems that incorporate features for people who are blind and visually impaired, have the potential to improve quality of life by enabling independent medicines management and medicines adherence, whilst potentially decreasing medication errors, rate of diseases, frequency of hospitalisations and medicines related deaths.