Alessa Tourkiah
Biomedical Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Blood Med. 2022 Apr 15;13:181-190. doi: 10.2147/JBM.S360091. eCollection 2022.
Blood transfusions are essential for many medical procedures, but current supplies of blood are insufficient to meet the needs of all patients. Apps offer a means to improve donor recruitment and enhance blood-donation systems, if they are usable and useful. The Saudi Ministry of Health launched a blood-donation app, "Wateen". However, there is currently no evidence of the app's usability and usefulness among users.
The aim of this research was to evaluate the usability, user satisfaction and perceived usefulness of this blood-donation app in Saudi Arabia.
A mixed-method study was conducted comprising a quantitative questionnaire with donors, and qualitative semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals. Descriptive analysis was used for the quantitative data and a thematic approach for the qualitative data.
A total of 401 donors completed the questionnaire, 53.7% of whom were males. Most participants were highly satisfied with the Wateen app and found this app easy to use and navigate. Older people found the app less easy to use compared with younger respondents. Key benefits identified by questionnaire respondents included the potential to encourage donation, and improve communication. A total of 12 healthcare professionals were interviewed. Most healthcare professionals expressed that the app was generally acceptable and easy to use. They felt that the app has the potential to be effective in enhancing donor awareness, facilitating communication between donors and healthcare professionals, and improving the efficiency of the donation process. Some accessibility issues were identified that need to be considered. It was also suggested that more be done to expand the app functionality and increase awareness of the app.
This blood-donation app is highly usable and acceptable among donors and healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia, offering several benefits. Some accessibility issues were identified, along with possibilities for improving accessibility and expanding the app's functionality.
输血对于许多医疗程序至关重要，但目前的血液供应不足以满足所有患者的需求。如果应用程序可用且有用，那么它们为改善献血者招募和加强献血系统提供了一种手段。沙特阿拉伯卫生部推出了一款献血应用程序“Wateen”。然而，目前尚无证据表明该应用程序在用户中的可用性和实用性。
本研究的目的是评估这款沙特阿拉伯献血应用程序的可用性、用户满意度和感知有用性。
进行了一项混合方法研究，包括对献血者进行定量问卷调查，以及对医疗保健专业人员进行定性半结构化访谈。对定量数据采用描述性分析，对定性数据采用主题分析法。
共有401名献血者完成了问卷调查，其中53.7%为男性。大多数参与者对Wateen应用程序非常满意，并认为该应用程序易于使用和操作。与年轻受访者相比，老年人发现该应用程序不太容易使用。问卷调查受访者确定的主要好处包括鼓励献血的潜力和改善沟通。共采访了12名医疗保健专业人员。大多数医疗保健专业人员表示，该应用程序总体上是可以接受的且易于使用。他们认为该应用程序有潜力有效提高献血者意识、促进献血者与医疗保健专业人员之间的沟通以及提高献血过程的效率。发现了一些需要考虑的无障碍问题。还建议采取更多措施来扩展应用程序功能并提高对该应用程序的认识。
这款献血应用程序在沙特阿拉伯的献血者和医疗保健专业人员中具有很高的可用性和可接受性，具有诸多益处。发现了一些无障碍问题，以及改善无障碍性和扩展应用程序功能的可能性。
