Issues Related to the use of a Mobile Application of the Protocol for Preventing and Managing Urinary Catheter Blockage Among Long-term Indwelling Urinary Catheter Users for Visiting Nurses: An Interview Study of Visiting Nurses in Japan

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Background: We developed a mobile application of the protocol for preventing and managing catheter blockage among long-term indwelling catheter users for visiting nurses. We conducted meetings at four visiting nurse stations in Japan from May to June 2017 to explain the application to visiting nurses. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to clarify issues related to the full-scale use of this protocol application, using data from focus group interviews with visiting nurses. Methods: We conducted focus group interviews with the meeting participants. The focus group interviews were conducted at four different venues. Three focus groups had eight participants, and the fourth had two participants, for a total of 26 study participants. Specifically, the group interviews covered (1) the application’s structure and content; (2) operability; (3) portability; (4) possibilities for use, effects, and expectations; and (5) concerns about use. Results: The results of the group interviews were classified into five categories: possibilities for the use of the mobile application, possibilities for further use of the application by nurses, suggestions for the use of the application by caregivers and nursing care workers, the burden associated with the use of the mobile application, and opinions and desires for improvements in the mobile application. Conclusion: The results suggested that visiting nurses would use the mobile application. However, for full-scale use, it would be necessary to add the ability to use accumulated data, increase the number of learning screens, and take safety management measures for the transmission of medical information.