Aliviado Mobile App for Hospice Providers: A Usability Study

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 Jan;63(1):e37-e45. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.07.019. Epub 2021 Aug 10.

Abstract

Context: Evaluation of usability and mobile health content is critical for ensuring effective implementation of technology utilizing interventions tailored to the needs of hospice care providers for people living with dementia in community-based settings.

Objectives: To evaluate the usability, content, and "readiness to launch" of the Aliviado mobile health app for interdisciplinary team members participating in the Hospice Advanced Dementia Symptom Management and Quality of Life.

Methods: Usability of the Aliviado app was assessed in 86 respondents with an adapted IBM Computer Usability Satisfaction Questionnaire following Hospice Advanced Dementia Symptom Management and Quality of Life training and implementation of the mobile app.

Results: More than half of users receiving training employed the mobile app in practice. Users reported use as: Daily-6.3%, Weekly-39.6%, monthly-54.2%. The highest measured attributes were usefulness, value, and effectiveness. Over 90% deemed the app "ready to launch" with no or minimal problems.

Conclusion: This study shows that a newly-developed mobile app is usable and can be successfully adopted for care of people living with dementia.

Keywords: Telemedicine; dementia; hospice; mobile applications; usability testing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Hospice Care*
  • Hospices*
  • Humans
  • Mobile Applications*
  • Quality of Life
  • Telemedicine*