Abstract
Background: There has been increasing use of mobile mHealth applications, including pain assessment and pain self-management apps. The usability of mHealth applications has vital importance as it affects the quality of apps. Thus, usability assessment with methodological rigor is essential to minimize errors and undesirable consequences, as well as to increase user acceptance. Objective: this study aimed to synthesize and evaluate existing studies on the assessment of the usability of pain-related apps using a newly developed scale. Methods: an electronic search was conducted in several databases, combining relevant keywords. Then titles and abstracts were screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria. The eligible studies were retrieved and independently screened for inclusion by two authors. Disagreements were resolved by discussion until consensus was reached. Results: a total of 31 articles were eligible for inclusion. Quality assessment revealed that most manuscripts did not assess usability using valid instruments or triangulation of methods of usability assessment. Most manuscripts also failed to assess the three domains of usability (effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction). Conclusions: future studies should consider existing guidelines on usability assessment design, development and assessment of pain-related apps.
Highlights
Pain is a global health problem, affecting all populations, regardless of age, sex, income, race/ethnicity, or geography [1]
The present review aims to synthesize and evaluate existing studies on the assessment of the usability of pain-related apps using this newly developed scale [23]
The following combination of words was used for all databases: pain AND AND usability
Summary
Pain is a global health problem, affecting all populations, regardless of age, sex, income, race/ethnicity, or geography [1]. It represents one of the main motives for seeking healthcare and a huge clinical, social and economic problem [1], conditioning life activities and being responsible for morbidity, absence from work, and temporary or permanent disability. There has been a global push towards using information technologies to address health needs [4], as the mobile Health (mHealth) application (app) market grows. There has been increasing use of mobile mHealth applications, including pain assessment and pain self-management apps. The usability of mHealth applications has vital importance as it affects the quality of apps. Usability assessment with methodological rigor is essential to minimize errors and undesirable consequences, as well as to increase user acceptance
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
