Session Information
Session Title: AA 2021 Virtual Posters - Neurological Rehabilitation
Session Time: None. Available on demand.
Disclosures: Kuntal Chowdhary, MD: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest
Objective: To evaluate the usability of a redesigned mobile health system (iMHere 2.0) that assists individuals with disabilities with self-management. We hypothesized that participants would have 1) better efficiency and effectiveness; and 2) improved usability when using the redesigned modules, compared to the original modules.
Design: A within-subject crossover study evaluated the modules for medication management and skin care.Setting : Quantitative and qualitative data were collected either in the laboratory or a site of the participant’s choosing.Participants : Twenty-four participants with disabilities that limit the fine motor movements of their hands completed the entire study. Participants served as their own matched control, as they were randomly assigned to use either the original or redesigned modules, then provided with the alternate modules.
Interventions: Participants were asked to perform a set of tasks using both the original and redesigned MyMeds and SkinCare modules to assess efficiency and effectiveness. Usability was measured using the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ)) to evaluate 10 new accessibility features that were added to the redesigned app, and participants were asked which versions they preferred.
Main Outcome Measures: We examined the usability constructs of efficiency and effectiveness (including errors) by assessing task time and errors made, and learnability and satisfaction by using a validated usability survey (TUQ) and by evaluating user preferences.
Results: Efficiency (average time to complete a task) dropped by 35% with the redesigned modules (p < 0.001). Effectiveness, as assessed by number of steps to complete task (p=0.02), number of mistakes committed/error rate (p=0.035) and mistake recovery (p=0.032), also significantly improved with the redesigned modules. Additionally, most participants (79.2%) preferred the redesigned modules and demonstrated improved usability scores with an 8.6% improvement rate (p < 0.001).Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the mHealth system became more efficient, effective, and usable for individuals with dexterity impairments after redesigning it according to user-centered principles.
Level of Evidence: Level I
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Chowdhary K, Parmanto B, Dicianno B. User-centered Design Enhances Usability of an Mhealth System for Users with Dexterity Impairments [abstract]. PM R. 2021; 13(S1)(suppl 1). https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/user-centered-design-enhances-usability-of-an-mhealth-system-for-users-with-dexterity-impairments/. Accessed May 29, 2025.« Back to AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2021
PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/user-centered-design-enhances-usability-of-an-mhealth-system-for-users-with-dexterity-impairments/