Evaluating and improving the usability of a mHealth platform to assess postoperative dental pain
Open accessAbstract
Objectives: The use of interactive mobile health (mHealth) applications to monitor patient-reported postoperative pain outcomes is an emerging area in dentistry that requires further exploration. This study aimed to evaluate and improve the usability of an existing mHealth application. Materials and methods: The usability of the application was assessed iteratively using a 3-phase approach, including a rapid cognitive walkthrough (Phase I), lab-based usability testing (Phase II), and in situ pilot testing (Phase III). The study team conducted Phase I, while providers and patients participated in Phase II and III. Results: The rapid cognitive walkthrough identified 23 potential issues that could negatively impact user experience, with the majority classified as system issues. The lab-based usability testing yielded 141 usability issues.; 43% encountered by patients and 57% by dentists. Usability problems encountered during pilot testing included undelivered messages due to mobile phone carrier and service-related issues, errors in patients’ phone number data entry, and problems in provider training. Discussion: Through collaborative and iterative work with the vendor, usability issues were addressed before launching a trial to assess its efficacy. Conclusion: The usability of the mHealth application for postoperative dental pain was remarkably improved by the iterative analysis and interdisciplinary collaboration.
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Cites
The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ): Development and Validation Study
Zhou, L., Bao, J., Setiawan, I. M. A., Saptono, A., & Parmanto, B. (2019) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth · doi:10.2196/11500 · Cited by 675 · cited 1× · see citing works
“20 However, to our knowledge, such interactive mHealth applications, 21 that provide frequent monitoring of patient-reported postoperative pain outcomes have not been widespread within the dental literature.”
BackgroundZhou, L., Bao, J., Watzlaf, V., & Parmanto, B. (2019) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth · doi:10.2196/11223 · Cited by 246 · see citing works
Fernández, C. E., Maturana, C. A., Coloma, S. I., Carrasco-Labra, A., & Giacaman, R. A. (2021) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345211003828 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Nundy, S., Dick, J. J., Chou, C.-H., Nocon, R. S., Chin, M. H., & Peek, M. E. (2014) · Health Affairs · doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2013.0589 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Effect of mHealth in improving oral hygiene: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Toniazzo, M. P., Nodari, D., Muniz, F. W. M. G., & Weidlich, P. (2019) · Journal of Clinical Periodontology · doi:10.1111/jcpe.13083 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Derks, Y. P., Klaassen, R., Westerhof, G. J., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & Noordzij, M. L. (2019) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth · doi:10.2196/13479 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Ibarra-Noriega, A. M., Yansane, A., Mullins, J., Simmons, K., Skourtes, N., Holmes, D., White, J., Kalenderian, E., & Walji, M. F.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Skourtes Institute , Hillsboro, OR 97124, United States
- FollowApp.Care , London, W1G 8GE, United Kingdom
- Marquette University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Walji, Muhammad F
- ORCID
- Venue
- JAMIA Open
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2024-01-04
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- ooae018-ooae018
- ISSN
- 2574-2531 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10928307
- OpenAlex
- W4392712125
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 1.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- JAMIA Open (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UpSpace Institutional Repository (University of Pretoria) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Digital Commons-TMC (Texas Medical Center) (submittedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Funders
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (U18HS026135)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Usability and User Interface Design
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Health, Technology, Consumer Behavior
- Keywords
- mobile health, mobile health apps, usability evaluation, postoperative dental pain, patient-reported outcomes, usability testing, dentists, patient experience, mobile messaging, iterative design, interdisciplinary collaboration
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