"Back on Track": A Mobile App Observational Study Using Apple's ResearchKit Framework.

Area of Science:

• Medical Research Technology
• Digital Health Applications
• Orthopedic Surgery Research

Background:

• Apple Inc. introduced ResearchKit, an open-source framework for creating medical study apps.
• Five beta apps were presented alongside ResearchKit's announcement in March 2015.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand decision-making processes in patients with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures.
• To describe the development of a ResearchKit application tailored for this specific patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• A multilingual, observational study design was employed.
• The ResearchKit framework was utilized for app development, ensuring secure data transmission via SSL.
• A robust data storage and security concept was implemented, separating personal and study data, with consideration for ethical implications and privacy.

Main Results:

• An app was successfully developed using ResearchKit, even without extensive iOS experience.
• The Apple App Store served as a primary distribution channel, achieving significant downloads (>1,200/year) without active recruitment.
• Preliminary analysis indicated moderate participant dropout rates and high-quality data, with 180 participants enrolled and 424 surveys completed.

Conclusions:

• ResearchKit offers a user-friendly and potent framework for developing medical studies.
• Key advantages include its modular design, broad accessibility via iOS devices, and efficient programming environment.