Use Of Questionnaire Research Articles

STOP-Bang questionnaire in patients hospitalized with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism.

The STOP-Bang questionnaire is a validated screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We conducted this study to validate it among patients hospitalized with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE). This prospective cohort study enrolled consecutive stable patients with acute PE who underwent an overnight sleep study within 7 days after diagnosis. Our outcomes were: i) the STOP-Bang questionnaire's utility for risk stratification, ii) the discrimination of the STOP-Bang questionnaire categories, iii) the false negative rate of STOP-Bang questionnaire prediction, and iv) the clinical utility of the STOP-Bang questionnaire to exclude OSA. We also calculated the test performance characteristics to predict OSA. During the study period, 268 patients completed a sleep study. OSA was found in 47% of patients. OSA incidence in low-, moderate-, and high-risk STOP-Bang groups was 22.4%, 48.2%, and 61.5%, respectively (P <0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of the STOP-Bang questionnaire for risk of OSA was 0.65. The false negative rate of a low-risk STOP-Bang questionnaire result to rule out OSA was 22.4% and the clinical utility was 21.6%. The sensitivity was 89.8% (97.2% for men and 80.4% for women). The STOP-Bang questionnaire showed poor discrimination for the risk of OSA in hospitalized patients with acute symptomatic PE. It had a high false negative rate and a low clinical utility. The STOP-Bang questionnaire had a good sensitivity in men, and might be used to rule out OSA in this population.

User perceptions of ICT-based library services in the universities of Bangladesh

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to explore the existing information and communication technologies (ICTs) scenario in public and private university libraries in Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to determine the use and extent of ICT implementation for collection development practices of the said institutions.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a structured questionnaire for university library users. Students' opinions have been encapsulated, and the data findings were analyzed and presented in light of the responses.FindingsFor students who responded to the questionnaire, their ICT-based knowledge usage experience is not up to the mark. In general, it was found that students had limited knowledge about ICT-based resources and services. Besides this, the study also showed how to improve the entire condition and services of these libraries by adopting modern technology. This investigation reveals the situation they encountered in applying information technology and puts forward necessary recommendations that may help improve their services in the information storing and dissemination process.Originality/valueThis study focuses on the user perceptions of ICT-based library services in university libraries in Bangladesh. It will prompt further research on user perceptions of ICT-based library services in academic libraries globally.

Development and Usability Evaluation of a Mhealth Application for Health-Care Associated Infections among Health-Care Providers in Malaysia

Background: The effectiveness of reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) depends on increasing healthcare providers’ awareness, skills, and adherence to standard practices. Mhealth applications provide an innovative approach to enhancing access to information and resources while reducing time and expenses. Objective: The study aimed to develop and evaluate a mhealth application for healthcare providers that offers quick access to updated recommendations, evidence-based guidelines, and protocols for managing patients with HCAIs. Method: The study included the development of the app, followed by a pilot test of its usability among physicians and nursing staff by using the Mobile Application Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ). Results: The mhealth application, named HCAI Shield, was developed with four main menus. The menu includes HCAI’s care bundle: hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and standard precautions. The information has been gathered following standards established by both national and international organizations. Twenty-one participants took part in the evaluation, and the mean score for the application’s usability was 5.28 ± 0.38. The areas of “ease of use,” “interface and satisfaction” received high mean scores. Conculsion: The HCAI Shield app provides convenient access to evidence-based guidelines and standards for HCAI management. Further evaluation is recommended.

PARKINSONVR: A REALIDADE VIRTUAL COMO AUXILIADORA EM TRATAMENTOS FISIOTERAPÊUTICOS PARA PACIENTES COM DOENÇA DE PARKINSON

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by tremors, bradykinesia, weakness, loss of postural reflexes, gait problems, and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Although there is no cure for PD, there are several efficient treatments to help with daily life, one of which is physiotherapy. Physiotherapy can help minimize the progression of the disease and improve the patient's quality of life. However, conventional physiotherapy treatments are often seen as repetitive and discouraging for patients, affecting the effectiveness of the treatment. To avoid this problem, new treatment practices combined with physiotherapy have been scientifically developed, such as the use of virtual reality (VR). Therefore, this work presents a VR computational application to assist in the physiotherapeutic treatments of patients with PD using interactive and customized 3D virtual environments. The application was evaluated by the researchers involved in the project, using a usability questionnaire specific to this type of environment, obtaining a final average of 4.77, standard deviation of 0.35 and a 95% confidence interval between its upper limits and lower (4.46; 5.08), being considered suitable for testing on real patients in the future.

SADIARV - SISTEMA PARA ASSISTÊNCIA DE DIAGNÓSTICO DE AUTISMO COM REALIDADE VIRTUAL

The use of interactive technologies that use Virtual Reality (VR) in favor of patients in the area of mental health has been seriously expanded and valued, considering that good results are obtained, such as: treatments with greater effectiveness and lower cost, in addition to diversity of data that can be collected to better understand these individuals. However, research and studies on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are still very recent, but it is known that with early diagnosis the treatment and development of the patient becomes much more efficient, in this sense a tool that specifically helps with diagnosis of autism there is a need. Therefore, this work presents a computational application that makes use of Virtual Reality and Computer Vision to assist professionals in the field in diagnosing patients with ASD. The virtual environments were evaluated by the project researchers, using a specific usability questionnaire, together with a usability scale system (SUS - System Usability Scale), obtaining a final average of 4.63 out of 5.0, being considered suitable for future use on real patients.

TransKinect: a computer vision and machine learning clinical decision support system for automatic independent wheelchair transfer technique assessment

Background Physical and occupational therapists provide routine care for manual wheelchair users and are responsible for training and assessing the quality of transfers. These transfers can produce large loads on the upper extremity joints if improper sitting-pivot-technique is used. Methods to assess quality of transfers include the Transfer Assessment Instrument, a clinically validated tool derived from quantitative biomechanical features; however, adoption of this tool is low due to the complex usage requirements and speed of typical transfers. Objective The objective of this study is to develop and validate a computer vison and machine learning solution to better implement the Transfer Assessment Instrument in clinical settings. Methods The prototype system, TransKinect, consists of an infrared depth sensor and a custom software application; usability testing was carried out with fifteen therapists who performed two transfer assessments with the TransKinect. Proficiency in using features, usability, acceptability and satisfaction were analysed with validated surveys and themes were extracted from the qualitative feedback. Results The therapists were able to successfully complete the transfer quality assessments with 86.7 ± 5.4% proficiency. Total scores for System Usability Scale (77.6 ± 14.7%) and Questionnaire for User Interface Satisfaction (83.5 ± 8.7%) indicated that the system was usable and satisfactory. Qualitative feedback indicated that TransKinect was user-friendly, easy to learn, and had high potential. Discussion The results support TransKinect as a potential clinical decision support system for therapists for the comprehensive assessment of independent transfer technique. Future research is needed to investigate the utility and acceptance of TransKinect in real clinical environments. Implications for Rehabilitation Machine learning and computer vision can be used to analyze transfer technique TransKinect is a usable and user-friendly means for therapists to automate analysis Summary reports and videos of transfers show high potential for clinical use Adoption of TransKinect can increase quality of care for manual wheelchair users

A gamified virtual environment intervention for gait rehabilitation in Parkinson’s Disease: co-creation and feasibility study

BackgroundTreadmill gait training has been shown to improve gait performance in People with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD), and in combination with Virtual Reality, it can be an effective tool for gait rehabilitation. The addition of gamification elements can create a more stimulating and adherent intervention. However, implementation of new technologies in healthcare can be challenging. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a treadmill rehabilitation program in a Gamified Virtual Reality Environment (GVRE) for PwPD.MethodsThe GVRE was developed following a user-centered design approach, involving both PwPD and physiotherapists in the development and evaluation of the intervention. The intervention consisted of a walking simulation in three different environments (countryside, city, and park), which had a progressive increase in difficulty. To test its feasibility, three sessions were carried out with four PwPD and four physiotherapists. To assess the usability, the System Usability Scale (SUS), Assistive Technology Usability Questionnaire for people with Neurological diseases (NATU Quest) and Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) were used. To assess the intervention’s acceptability, feedback and in-game performance was collected from participants.ResultsResults showed the feasibility of the intervention, with a SUS score of 74.82 ± 12.62, and a NATU Quest score of 4.49 ± 0.62, and positive acceptability feedback. Participants showed clear preferences for naturalistic environments, and gamification elements were seen as positive. Difficulty settings worked as intended, but lowered enjoyment of the experience in some cases.ConclusionsThis intervention was successfully shown as a feasible option for the training of gait under Dual Task conditions for PwPD. It offers a safe and replicable environment in which complex situations can be trained. However, further iterations of the intervention need to be improved in order to guarantee accurate tracking and a more realistic training progression.Trial registration numberNCT05243394–01/20/2022.

The relationship between parental attitudes and the assessment of the benefits and risks of screen devices use among children in early primary school years

Nowadays, children increasingly choose screen devices as a form of communication and spending free time, which raises concerns about the potential harmfulness of excessive use of them. Therefore, it seems important to look at the issue of using screen devices from the perspective of parents and their attitudes towards children themselves, as well as in relation to the use of screen devices in everyday life. The aim of the presented study was to demonstrate the relationship between parental attitudes, parent’s gender and the assessment of the benefits and risks associated with children’s screen devices use. The research tools used in the study included The Parental Attitudes Scale (SPR) by Mieczyslaw Plopa (2008), covering six parental attitudes, and original The Screen Usage Questionnaire (KKE) to measure the attitude towards screen use by children. The article discusses theoretical aspects of parental attitudes towards children and screen use, as well as the benefits and risks of children’s screen devices use in the early primary school years. The operationalization of variables in research tools was presented. The study involved 173 participants aged 29-44 years (M = 36.56; SD = 3.16; Me = 37), including 127 mothers and 47 fathers of children aged 7-10 from the Podkarpackie. No correlation was found between parental attitudes and their assessment of the benefits and risks associated with screen devices use. However, the differences were observed between mothers and fathers in the assessment of benefits and risks. The research results indicate the need for education on digital parenting. Mothers assessed the use of screens neutrally or negatively, while fathers assessed it neutrally or positively, hence the conclusion regarding preventive activities is to direct various educational interventions towards fathers and mothers. These findings indicate the need to support parents introducing children to the digital world in effective education regarding the use of screen devices.

Multimedia Courseware for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language

This paper introduces an interactive multimedia (IMM) courseware prototype entitled “Learn Chinese with Ease” (LCE), a specialised instructional tool developed for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL) at tertiary level. It is restricted to non-Chinese heritage students and students with non-Chinese speaking backgrounds. This research aimed to evaluate the students’ perceived level of usability of the LCE courseware prototype for TCSL using a usability questionnaire. In order to obtain the students’ feedbacks pertaining to their experience in interacting with the LEC courseware prototype, a usability evaluation study was conducted. The research participants completed a courseware usability questionnaire (CUQ) that was designed to measure the usability of the courseware prototype focused on two quality attributes: (1) Interface Quality with two research constructs (Section A: User interface design, and Section B: Navigation and interactivity), and (2) Information Quality (Section C: Instructional Content). It also investigated the user preference through the final section in the questionnaire. The CUQ was constructed as five-point Likert scales, labelling with 1-Strongly Disagree, 2-Disagree, 3-Neutral, 4-Agree and 5-Strongly Agree, which was adapted from the questionnaires by Aris et al. (2006) and Bahrudin et al. (2011). Reliability testing on CUQ using Cronbach’s alpha showed that the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of all the four sections in CUQ were above 0.8, indicating the questionnaire was well-constructed and reliable. Research participants were asked to rate their agreement with the statements in the four sections, ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Results for the students’ assessment of the usability of the LCE courseware prototype show that the students had positive perceptions toward the information quality and interface quality of the LEC courseware for educational contexts to support the pedagogy of TCSL. The research findings also indicate that many students prefer using the IMM courseware in Chinese learning compared to traditional instruction methods reliant on paper textbook.

Telehealth usability in a university student physiotherapy clinic during COVID-19.

'Telehealth' online delivery of physiotherapy was the only option during the Covid 19 pandemic in many areas. This was a challenge for physiotherapy training in student clinics where students, clinical educators (CEs) and clients were in three separate locations. The aim of this study was to determine the usability and acceptability of online delivery in a physiotherapy student clinic. An observational cross-sectional design was used. Clients (adult clients or carers of paediatric clients), students and CEs participated in telehealth physiotherapy appointments over a Telehealth platform called NeoRehab. The three groups were then invited to complete the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). The 21 item TUQ uses a 7-point Likert scale and covers six constructs (Usefulness, Ease of Use, Interface quality, Interaction quality, Reliability, Satisfaction). Data were analysed from 39 clients, 15 students, and seven CEs. The respective domain scores (SD) for Usefulness [(5.3 (1.5), 5.4 (0.7), 5.1 (0.7)] and Satisfaction [5.1 (1.6), 5.0 (1.0), 5.4 (0.7)] were similarly high across groups, while scores for Reliability [3.7 (1.5), 3.6 (1.0), 3.0 (0.5)] were similarly low across groups. Interface Quality [5.0 (1.5), 4.5 (1.2), 4.1 (0.8)] scores were similarly moderate. Ease of Use [5.6 (1.5), 5.3 (1.0), 4.1 (1.1)] scores were significantly higher in clients than CEs (p=0.043). Interaction Quality [5.0 (1.4), 3.9 (1.3), 4.2 (0.9)] scores were significantly higher in clients compared with students (p=0.03). All groups agreed that the delivery format was useful, easy to use and provided a satisfactory service but was not reliable.

Designing an online course using an EXD model: A case of Human–Computer Interaction undergraduate course

Designing an online course is a complex and resource-intensive activity with a focus on pedagogical and technological aspects. One approach is the e-learning experience design (EXD) model, which combines user-experience design concepts, such as agile methodology and design thinking. This study aimed to design a website and activities for an undergraduate human–computer interaction (HCI) online course based on the EXD model and analyze the students' learning experiences. The students' experiences were captured from two online surveys opened during the first weeks (n = 94 students) and at the end of the semester (n = 93). The surveys utilized the e-Learning Usability Questionnaire (EUS) and asked for suggestions to improve the course delivery. In addition, the students rated their experience in pain points when participating in the course. The findings show that adopting the EXD model for an online course design and implementing some design best practices can promote students’ positive attitudes toward the course. The contributions of this study include an example of how an online course can be designed using the EXD model and a description of its effects on student attitudes.

Pengaruh Nursery Rhymes terhadap Kemampuan Kosakata Reseptif pada Anak Usia Prasekolah di TK Negeri Pembina Trenggalek

Abstract Background: Nursery Rhymes is a song that is specifically made for children, that range from simple but happy notes and consist of lyrics that have specific meaning. While some rhymes seem designed purely to amuse, others are didactic and educational. Educational experts believe that nursery rhymes can sharpen children’s language skills. Through nursery rhymes, children can learn and understand many new vocabulary. Objectives: This study aims to find out the effect of nursery rhymes on receptive vocabulary skills in preschool children at TK Negeri Pembina Trenggalek. Methods: This study is a quantitative study with cross-sectional design. The sampling technique used in this study was purposive sampling with 52 respondents. The instruments used in this study were a nursery rhymes usage questionnaire and a receptive vocabulary skills test (Receptive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test). The statistical test used in this study was Kendall's Tau. Results: The result of Kendall's Tau test showed a ρ value of 0.001 (ρ &lt; 0.05) and a correlation strength of 0.428. This means that there is an effect of nursery rhymes on receptive vocabulary skills, with moderate correlation strength and positive correlation direction. That is, the more often children use nursery rhymes, the higher receptive vocabulary skills they have. Conclusion: There is an effect of nursery rhymes on receptive vocabulary skills in preschool children at TK Negeri Pembina Trenggalek. Keyword: nursery rhymes, receptive vocabulary skills, preschool children

Development and usability testing of an online platform for provider training and implementation of cognitive-behavioral therapy guided self-help for eating disorders.

Most individuals with eating disorders (EDs) do not receive treatment, and those who do receive care typically do not receive evidence-based treatment, partly due to lack of accessible provider training. This study developed a novel "all-in-one" online platform for disseminating training for mental health providers in cognitive-behavioral therapy guided self-help (CBTgsh) for EDs and supporting its implementation. The aim of the study was to obtain usability data from the online platform prior to evaluating its effects on provider training outcomes and patient ED symptom outcomes in an open pilot trial. Nine mental health provider participants (n = 4 in Cycle 1; n = 5 in Cycle 2) and 9 patient participants (n = 4 in Cycle 1; n = 5 in Cycle 2) were enrolled over two cycles of usability testing. In Cycle 1, we recruited providers and patients separately to complete brief platform testing sessions. In Cycle 2, we recruited provider-patient dyads; providers completed training using the platform and subsequently delivered CBTgsh to a patient for three weeks. Usability was assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS), the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use Questionnaire (USE), and semi-structured interviews. Interview feedback converged on two themes for providers (applicability of program for real-world use, platform structure and function) and two themes for patients (barriers and facilitators to engagement, perceived treatment effects). SUS and USE scores were in the "average" to "good" ranges across cycles. Findings from this study demonstrate preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the online platform. Data collected in this study will inform further refinements to the online platform. The platform's effects on provider training outcomes and patient ED symptom outcomes will be evaluated in an open pilot trial. Given the wide treatment gap for EDs and barriers to dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatments, the online platform represents a scalable solution that could improve access to evidence-based care for EDs.

Development of a virtual reality system usability questionnaire (VRSUQ)

Virtual reality (VR) has gained significant attention as a technology that provides immersive experiences similar to the real world. In order for a VR system to be accepted, usability needs to be guaranteed. Accordingly, VR-related researchers are continuing their efforts to improve VR systems by conducting usability evaluations. However, existing studies have limitations in that they cannot comprehensively evaluate the detailed properties of VR systems by using questionnaires developed for general product usability evaluation or focusing only on some usability aspects of VR systems. This suggests it may be difficult to fully capture usability issues in a VR system, and that it is necessary to develop a usability evaluation tool that reflects the specific characteristics of the VR system. Therefore, this study develops and proposes the Virtual Reality System Usability Questionnaire (VRSUQ). In the development of the questionnaire, items were structured based on a literature review and discussions with experts. To account for the diverse characteristics of VR systems, the validity of the questionnaire was verified through both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, utilizing data obtained from three distinct experimental studies that employed different VR systems. In addition, by comparing the results of VRSUQ with the results from the System Usability Scale, which is widely used for perceived usability evaluation, alternative possibilities for using VRSUQ are presented. Further testing on various VR platforms is needed to ensure the reliability and validity of VRSUQ, and as results from using VRSUQ are accumulated, it is expected to be widely used as a more powerful and robust VR-specific perceived usability evaluation tool.

Usability of novel beat-by-beat ECG annotation software portal for generating large-scale machine learning training datasets

Abstract Introduction Despite the availability of numerous large publicly available ECG datasets, there is a distinct absence of specialized software to enable the beat-by-beat annotation and labeling, limiting the ability to generate high-quality machine learning training datasets. This study analyzed the usability of such a novel software interface. Through a survey of several cardiologists and clinic staff, several metrics were gauged, including user satisfaction, system and app simplicity, user interface, and effectiveness. The survey results gleaned insight into the users’ experiences, providing an understanding of the software’s user-friendliness and potential in developing a large-scale machine learning annotated ECG training dataset to advance cardiac health research. Methods 3 cardiology physicians, and 9 cardiac telemetry unit staff were surveyed following use of the SafeBeat Annotation Software Platform to annotate a large publicly available dataset ECGs (n=10,646) beat-by-beat. The validated Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ) and mobile Health App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) were used to assess the overall usability of the software interface. Results are reported as mean ± standard deviation. Results Users completed 10,646 ECG beat-by-beat annotations in 62 days, and averaged 164.0 ECGs per day. Physicians rated the software interface highly, with an overall mean PSSUQ of 6.4 ± 0.8 and MAUQ of 6.4 ± 0.7. Staff also rated the software interface highly, with an overall mean PSSUQ of 6.7 ± 0.6 and MAUQ of 6.8 ± 0.5. Overall 92% of the users reported that they strongly agreed they would use the application again and 83% strongly agreed that it was easy to learn how to use the system. Conclusion The usability analysis of this novel beat-by-beat ECG annotation software revealed that it was a highly effective tool for both cardiologists and clinic staff. Both the system and app were reported to be simple to learn, comfortable to use, and easily navigable. With most users responding that they could become productive quickly using this system, there is clear potential for it to be used to develop a large-scale machine learning dataset.Figure 1

P.019 A shared decision-model toolkit for pregnancy related care in neurology

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) is a dynamic, patient-engaged approach to collaborative medical care. Limited SDM tools exist in pregnancy. We aimed to examine the need and usability of a novel SDM tool for pharmaco-therapeutic treatment of neurological conditions in pregnancy. Methods: This is an exploratory mixed-methods study. Non-pregnant women of any age were recruited using convenience, purposive sampling from an academic neurology clinic in Toronto. Participants reported the user friendliness of the SDM by completing the systems usability (SUS) questionnaire and participated in a focus group to further elaborate on their experience. Results: Eleven participants completed the survey 45% each between age 31-40, and 51-60. Median time spent on the tool was 17.2 minutes, and median SUS score 70 (&lt;68 being not usable). Thematic data analysis from 2 focus groups, identified technical and content improvements: use of inclusive language, simplified design, and importance of patient engagement in SDM. Conclusions: Based on our preliminary results, a SDM web-tool for medication-related concerns of pregnant patients with neurological conditions is needed and usable. With integration of patients’ lived experiences, this novel tool may serve as an anchor point for future work in this field.

Clinical Utility and Usability of the Digital Box and Block Test: Mixed Methods Study.

The Box and Block Test (BBT) is a clinical tool used to measure hand dexterity, which is often used for tracking disease progression or the effectiveness of therapy, particularly benefiting older adults and those with neurological conditions. Digitizing the measurement of hand function may enhance the quality of data collection. We have developed and validated a prototype that digitizes this test, known as the digital BBT (dBBT), which automatically measures time and determines and displays the test result. This study aimed to investigate the clinical utility and usability of the newly developed dBBT and to collect suggestions for future improvements. A total of 4 occupational therapists participated in our study. To evaluate the clinical utility, we compared the dBBT to the BBT across dimensions such as acceptance, portability, energy and effort, time, and costs. We observed therapists using the dBBT as a dexterity measurement tool and conducted a quantitative usability questionnaire using the System Usability Scale (SUS), along with a focus group. Evaluative, structured, and qualitative content analysis was used for the qualitative data, whereas quantitative analysis was applied to questionnaire data. The qualitative and quantitative data were merged and analyzed using a convergent mixed methods approach. Overall, the results of the evaluative content analysis suggested that the dBBT had a better clinical utility than the original BBT, with ratings of all collected participant statements for the dBBT being 45% (45/99) equal to, 48% (48/99) better than, and 6% (6/99) lesser than the BBT. Particularly in the subcategories "acceptance," "time required for evaluation," and "purchase costs," the dBBT was rated as being better than the original BBT. The dBBT achieved a mean SUS score of 83 (95% CI 76-96). Additionally, several suggested changes to the system were identified. The study demonstrated an overall positive evaluation of the clinical utility and usability of the dBBT. Valuable insights were gathered for future system iterations. These pioneering results highlight the potential of digitizing hand dexterity assessments.

#703 Usability of a mobile health app for peritoneal dialysis patients: a pilot study

Abstract Background and Aims Technology has changed how people interact with the world, so health apps may be useful for patients with long term conditions, facilitating adherence and enabling remote monitoring. Usability is a critical factor when evaluating the quality of a mobile health app, as it indicates the ease with which a user can use it to achieve specific clinically orientated goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. Method The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ), a reliable and validated tool, was used to evaluate the MyPD® mobile health app's usability for adult peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The arm using the My PD app in a pilot randomized clinical study in six renal clinics in Colombia from September 2022 to August 2023 was evaluated. The MAUQ questionnaire includes 18 items assessing 3 domains related to ease of use (5 items), interface and satisfaction (7 items) and usefulness (6 items). Patients rated each item on a seven-point Likert scale, with one (1) strongly disagreeing and seven (7) strongly agreeing. The overall rating is the mean of eighteen items (standalone version); closer to seven (7), higher usability. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were summarized descriptively. Results MyPD app allows patients to collect and view their clinical information and dialysis treatment. Figure 1 shows a general overview of the different navigation windows. A total of 65 patients were included in this analysis; the mean age was 52.2 years, 44.6% were in CAPD, and 21.5 % achieved elementary school education or were illiterate (Table 1). The overall usability was 6.5 (SD 0.7), the maximum possible score is 7. The items related to satisfaction and interface have a mean of 6.8 (SD 0.5). Regarding ease of use, the mean was 6.6 (SD 0.8), a very high figure given the socio-cultural context of a middle-income country. In relation to usefulness, the mean was 6.1 (SD 1.5). Patients rated the overall satisfaction item with the app as 6.8 (SD 0.6). See details in Table 2. These results are better than those reported by other authors (Table 3). Conclusion The usability of the health app MyPD® was rated very high by patients, which will allow this application to be used widely as a tool that supports the outpatient care of PD patients.

Patient Opinions about Virtual Consultations in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

There have been no nationwide studies of patient opinions regarding telehealth in Saudi Arabia to identify the factors that might influence patients' perceptions and satisfaction. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of adults in the general population who last engaged with a healthcare practitioner via a virtual appointment. The participants were recruited by convenience sampling across Saudi Arabia between November 2023 and January 2024, completing a questionnaire that gathered data on (i) basic demographic and virtual consultation information and (ii) telehealth service delivery and technology based on the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire. Of the 916 participants, 53.7% were female, with a mean age of 47.2 (14.1) years. Nearly half attended primary care appointments, with the remainder attending a range of hospital specialties. Over 90% preferred having a virtual appointment over an in-person visit. About half had telephone consultations, while about a third had video calls through hospital-provided platforms; >90% found virtual appointments useful and convenient, easy to use, effective, reliable, and produced a favorable clinical interaction; and 97.4% were satisfied with their remote consultation experience despite the technical interruptions. The individuals who were less happy with their virtual consultation were significantly younger, lived in urban areas, attended specialty clinics, were seen by a psychologist, preferred in-person appointments, and had consultations by telephone. These data provide momentum to continue with and expand telehealth, especially through video calls, supported by educational initiatives.

Usability evaluation of the educational website "understanding my diabetes" for Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes education is an integral part of the treatment for the metabolic control of patients with diabetes. The use of the Internet as a tool for diabetes education, as well as its acceptance, is still under study. To assess the usability of the educational website "I understand my diabetes" designed for patients with type 2 diabetes attending primary care clinics. A cross-sectional study was done in 110 patients with type 2 diabetes from two family medicine clinics, each of whom was assigned a user account on the educational website "Entiendo mi diabetes." The web site assigned a user name and password to each patient. They were able to access the educational website at home. After a 15-day review period, participants were asked to evaluate usability using the Computer System Usability Questionnaire. Additionally, we developed an eight-item questionnaire usability focusing on diabetes care. Sociodemographic data, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Glucose levels and lipid profiles were also measured. The patients with diabetes had a mean age of 52.7 years and a median of 5 years since they were diagnosed with diabetes. The website received a good usability rating from 89.1% of participants, with favorable assessments in all three dimensions: 87.3% for information, 85.5% for quality, and 88.2% for interface. Regarding usability specifically for diabetes care, 98.2% rated it as having good usability. The website for education about the disease in patients "I understand my diabetes" had an adequate usability evaluation by patients, so they also considered it very useful for diabetes care. The diabetes care instrument had adequate usability and reliability.