Heynsbergh Natalie, Heckel Leila, Botti Mari, O Seung Chul, Livingston Patricia M
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Australia.
Epworth HealthCare, Melbourne, Australia.
JMIR Form Res. 2019 Apr 11;3(2):e10990. doi: 10.2196/10990.
There are few support systems available to informal carers who provide care to cancer patients. Smartphone apps have the capacity to reach large audiences and can provide information and support at a time convenient to carers.
The aim of this study was to design a smartphone app prototype for carers of adults with cancer.
A multiple-method design was used to develop a smartphone app. Current and past carers of people with any type of cancer were recruited from a public hospital, a private hospital, and a carer organization, who participated in either a focus group or phone interview. Carers answered questions about items to include in an app to address supportive care needs identified. Using carers' feedback, a smartphone app was designed and tested. Beta testing was conducted using a convenience sample of participants who completed scenarios to inform the app's design, functionality, and usability. Scenarios were timed and marked as complete or incomplete. Participants completed a questionnaire about the usability of the app. Beta testing occurred in 2 stages-a paper-based version of the app and an app-based test using the participants' preferred device. Alpha testing was completed internally to ensure the functionality of the app. Data were collected between May 2016 and August 2017.
A total of 33 carers participated in phone interviews and 12 in focus groups; their average age was 55 (SD 14) years, and 60% (27/45) were female. The majority of carers (76%, 25/33) had a positive attitude toward using smartphone apps. Carers noted that smartphone technology might improve their ability to seek information and support in managing their own health as well as the care needs of the person with cancer. Carers requested a variety of information and resources to be included in the app. Paper-based testing included the following: participants (N=10) were aged above 30 years (30%, 3/10), 30 to 49 years (30%, 3/10), and 50 years or above (40%, 4/10), and 60% (6/10) were male. Participants found the app user-friendly and pleasing in appearance. App-based testing included the following: participants (N=10) were aged above 30 years (20%, 2/10), 30 to 49 years (30%, 3/10), and 50 years or above (50%, 5/10), and 50% (5/10) were male. Participants reported the app to be user-friendly and easy to navigate. The majority (60%, 6/10) of participants were unable to create a shortcut icon to add the app to the home screen of their phone.
Carers highlighted the needed information and support to assist them during the caring period; they also reported having a positive attitude toward smartphone apps. The Carer Guide App is currently undergoing a pilot study to further test usability among carers of people with 1 cancer type.
为癌症患者提供护理的非正式护理人员可获得的支持系统很少。智能手机应用程序有能力覆盖大量受众，并能在护理人员方便的时间提供信息和支持。
本研究的目的是为成年癌症患者的护理人员设计一款智能手机应用程序原型。
采用多种方法设计一款智能手机应用程序。从一家公立医院、一家私立医院和一个护理人员组织招募了患有任何类型癌症患者的现任和前任护理人员，他们参加了焦点小组或电话访谈。护理人员回答了有关应用程序中应包含哪些项目以满足已确定的支持性护理需求的问题。根据护理人员的反馈，设计并测试了一款智能手机应用程序。使用便利样本的参与者进行了测试版测试，这些参与者完成了一些场景以了解应用程序的设计、功能和可用性。对场景进行计时，并标记为完成或未完成。参与者完成了一份关于应用程序可用性的问卷。测试版测试分两个阶段进行——应用程序的纸质版本和使用参与者首选设备的基于应用程序的测试。内部完成了阿尔法测试以确保应用程序的功能。数据收集于2016年5月至2017年8月期间。
共有33名护理人员参加了电话访谈，12名参加了焦点小组；他们的平均年龄为55（标准差14）岁，60%（27/45）为女性。大多数护理人员（76%，25/33）对使用智能手机应用程序持积极态度。护理人员指出，智能手机技术可能会提高他们在管理自身健康以及癌症患者护理需求方面寻求信息和支持的能力。护理人员要求在应用程序中纳入各种信息和资源。纸质测试包括：参与者（N = 10）年龄在30岁以上（30%，3/10）、30至49岁（30%，3/10）和50岁及以上（40%，4/10），60%（6/10）为男性。参与者发现该应用程序用户友好且外观宜人。基于应用程序的测试包括：参与者（N = 10）年龄在30岁以上（20% , 2/10）、30至49岁（30%，3/10）和 50岁及以上（50%，5/10），50%（5/10）为男性。参与者报告该应用程序用户友好且易于操作。大多数（60% , 6/10）参与者无法创建快捷方式图标将应用程序添加到手机主屏幕。
护理人员强调了在护理期间所需的信息和支持；他们还报告对智能手机应用程序持积极态度。护理人员指南应用程序目前正在进行一项试点研究，以进一步测试针对某一种癌症类型患者的护理人员的可用性。
